RASC News Agency: Ali Ahmad Jalali, former Afghanistan’s Interior Minister, has asserted that excluding Afghanistani women from the forthcoming Doha meeting significantly harms the credibility of the United Nations as an effective mediator. Jalali stressed that an agenda lacking women and civil society diminishes the UN’s role in conflict resolution.
The third meeting of special representatives on Afghanistani affairs, organized by the UN, is set for Sunday and Monday in Doha, Qatar. The exclusion of women and human rights issues from the agenda has triggered widespread criticism, particularly given the Taliban’s involvement.
Roza Otunbayeva, head of UNAMA, faced backlash for not addressing the absence of Afghanistani women, with some accusing her of “whitewashing” the Taliban. Afghanistani women have launched a social media campaign calling for a boycott of the meeting, describing it as appeasement of terrorists and a blow to the UN’s reputation.
The Taliban have confirmed their delegation, led by spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid, will attend the Doha meeting. The agenda, which has been shared with and approved by the Taliban, notably excludes discussions on women’s rights and human rights—issues crucial for Afghanistan.
