Taliban and civil society members “break the ice” in Oslo

On the eve of talks with Western diplomats, the Taliban “broke the ice” this Sunday with members of Afghan civil society in Oslo, especially during human rights discussions. Led by Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaki, the Taliban delegation – the first to tour Europe since returning to power in August – met behind closed doors with feminist activists and journalists, most notably Soria Morea on a snowy hill near Oslo In hotel. One of the feminist activists, Jameela Afghani, spoke of “a positive meeting to break the ice”.

“The Taliban have shown goodwill,” she said. Let’s see if his actions follow his words or not. The participants stressed that “all Afghans should work together for political, economic and security reform in the country”, Islamist government spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid also tweeted, which they presented as a “joint declaration”. They also recognized that “understanding and joint cooperation is the only solution to all problems in Afghanistan”, he said.

humanitarian emergency

A humanitarian emergency and human rights in Afghanistan are at the center of this three-day visit as millions of people in the country are deprived of international aid and many drought-stricken by hunger. No state has so far recognized the government of the Taliban, the Islamist radicals who were ousted from power in 2001 but who seized control of the country after a lightning strike last August. Norway’s Foreign Minister Aniken Huitfeld said on Friday that these discussions “do not constitute legalization or recognition.” “But we have to talk to the officials who are actually running the country.”

Ahead of bilateral contact with Norwegian officials on Tuesday, the delegation will meet with representatives from the United States, France, the United Kingdom, Germany, Italy and the European Union. “While seeking to resolve the humanitarian crisis with our allies, partners and humanitarian organizations, we follow a clear diplomacy with the Taliban in line with our enduring interest in a stable, rights-respecting and inclusive Afghanistan,” he tweeted. do.” Representative Thomas West on the US Special Sunday.

No foreign aid since August

Since August, international aid, which financed nearly 80% of the Afghan budget, has stopped and the United States has amassed $9.5 billion in assets of the Afghan Central Bank. Unemployment is skyrocketing and salaries of civil servants have not been paid for months. According to the United Nations, which has solicited $4.4 billion from donor countries this year, hunger now threatens 23 million Afghans, or 55% of the population. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said on Friday: “It would be a mistake to collectively punish Afghans simply because the real authorities are not behaving well.”

The international community, however, is waiting to see how the regime governs Islamic fundamentalists, who crushed human rights during their first term in power between 1996 and 2001. Despite promises, women are largely excluded from public sector jobs and secondary schools for girls remain mostly. Closed.

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