Islamabad [Pakistan], July 2: The Taliban delegation outlined its priorities on Monday at a two-day UN conference on Afghanistan. The meeting, which began on Sunday evening, aims to strengthen engagement with the de facto Taliban government in Kabul.
Lifting sanctions, unfreezing Afghanistan's foreign reserves and providing alternative livelihoods for farmers - particularly those who previously relied on poppy cultivation - were the key demands raised by Zabihullah Mujahid, the head of the Taliban delegation, in his opening speech.
Mujahid also expressed the Taliban government's desire for positive relations with Western nations but stressed the importance of respecting "certain religious and cultural values."The Taliban have faced fierce criticism for their human rights record, particularly restricting the rights of women and girls.
"By delineating Afghanistan's internal matters from foreign relations, we could potentially achieve significant advancements in both bilateral and multilateral engagements," Mujahid added.
The Taliban consider issues like forming an inclusive government and human rights issues as internal matters.
In February, the Taliban refused to attend a similar meeting due to disagreements over representation and the appointment of a UN special envoy. This time, such issues were not included on the agenda.
The second day of the closed-door meeting focuses on discussions related to Afghanistan's private sector and counter-narcotics efforts, according to Taliban officials.
Since returning to power in 2021, the Taliban have rejected calls for the formation of an inclusive government and to ensure women's rights to education and work. As a result, no country has recognized their government.
International envoys raised concerns about restrictions on women and girls in Afghanistan during meetings with the country's ruling Taliban in Qatar, United Nations' political affairs chief Rosemary DiCarlo said on Monday.
The two-day, UN-led meeting was the first of its kind attended by the Taliban which has not been internationally recognised since seizing power in 2021 as US-led forces withdrew after 20 years of war.
"Running through all the discussions was the deep international concern - from special envoys and from me - about the ongoing and serious restrictions on women and girls," DiCarlo said in a statement.
"Afghanistan cannot return to the international fold, or fully develop economically and socially, if it is deprived of the contributions and potential of half its population," she added.
Since the Taliban's return to power, most girls have been barred from high school and women from universities.
Source: Qatar Tribune