Talks on Afghanistan excluding IEA ongoing in Doha

KABUL, ATLANTA (Pajhwok): Behind closed doors, the UN-led meeting on Afghanistan is ongoing in Doha without the presence of the caretaker government.

These two-day talks began on Monday evening at Sheraton Hotel, where talks between officials of the previous Afghan government, Taliban and the United States had taken place some years back.

Antonio Guterres, the UN secretary-general, is presiding over the meeting involving envoys and representatives from about 22 other countries and organisations.

UN’s deputy spokeswoman Paulina Kubiak told reporters late on Monday the secretary-general had already reached the Qatari capital to chair the meeting.

The participants are discussing the issues of human rights, especially the rights of women and girls, inclusive governance, counterterrorism and narcotics, Kubiak said.

They are also exchanging views on how to stay engaged with the caretaker government of Afghanistan on these topics.

She said representatives and envoys of China, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Iran, Japan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Norway, Pakistan, Qatar, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Tajikistan, Turkey, Turkmenistan, the United Arab Emirates, Britain, the US, Uzbekistan, European Union and Organisation of Islamic Cooperation are taking part in the meeting.

The interim Afghan government has not been invited to the talks, but Sohail Shaheen -- head of IEA’s political office in Qatar, tweeted that he met representatives of China and Britain prior to Doha huddle.

Zabihullah Mujahid, spokesman for IEA, told TOLOnews the Afghan government desired interaction with the international community and hoped the world would invite its representatives to such meetings.

aw/sa/mud