WASHINGTON: The United States abruptly cancelled meetings with the Taliban in Doha that were set to address key economic issues after the hardliners reversed a decision to allow all girls to return to high school classes.
The cancellation of talks was the first concrete sign that recent Taliban moves on human rights and inclusivity could directly impact the international community’s willingness to help the group which took control of Afghanistan last year.
“Their decision was a deeply disappointing and inexplicable reversal of commitments to the Afghan people, first and foremost, and also to the international community,” a US State Department spokesperson said. “We have cancelled some of our engagements, including planned meetings in Doha, and made clear that we see this decision as a potential turning point in our engagement.”
A series of meeting between US and Taliban administration officials were set to take place on the sidelines of a conference in Qatar’s capital on Saturday and Sunday Some of the meetings were to have included United Nations and World Bank representatives.
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An Afghan foreign ministry spokesman confirmed that a Taliban delegation, including the acting foreign minister, had been expecting to go to Doha. The talks would cover issues including the independence of the Afghan central bank and the printing of Afghani currency bank notes.
The Taliban on Wednesday backtracked on their previous commitment to open high schools to girls, saying that they would remain closed until a plan was drawn up for them to reopen. The U-turn shocked many, leaving students in tears and sparking small protests by girls in Kabul. It also drew condemnation from humanitarian agencies and foreign governments. read more
A major donor summit for humanitarian aid is set to take place this month, co-hosted by Britain, in an effort to help raise $4.4 billion in funding the United Nations says it needs to meet urgent needs in the country.
