Afghan women may not attend Doha talks after failing to get visa

KABUL and the US in Qatar, have failed to obtain visa and may not attend the talks.

The next round of peace talks between the Taliban’s Doha office representatives and US special envoy for peace Zalmay Khalilzad, are scheduled to take place on Monday (Feb 25).

A member of the Afghan Women Network, who did not want her name to be published, said the Qatari government had asked the Afghan government to send women for participation in the talks, but the Afghan Foreign Ministry did not agree to it until Wednesday (Feb 20).

However, she said the Foreign Ministry agreed later in the day but then it was not possible to issue visas to 40 women in the single day left.  She alleged the Foreign Ministry officials had provided wrong information to the Presidential Palace about the women’s participation in the Doha talks.

“The women wanted to attend the talks in Doha and raise their voice for their rights, but some problems blocked their way.”

Foreign Ministry official responsible for international conferences, Asela Wardak, who is also member of the High Peace Council, said the Presidential Palace had directed the authorities concerned to facilitate the issuance of visa to women for participation in the Doha meeting.

“The women themselves were late in their apply for visa. The problem lies with the women because Thursday and Friday are off days in Kabul and Saturday and Sunday are off days in Qatar, but still efforts are underway to get visas for the women.”

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