The Afghan Taliban known variously as the De facto Authorities calling itself the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan is working towards quasi recognition by the international community, even though no concessions have been made on acceding to universal human rights.
Taliban Attendance in International Meets
Taliban representatives are increasingly being invited and attending international events. Recently annual Middle East Regional Assembly of the International Union of Railways (UIC), in which Afghanistan is a member, was held in Jordan. Representing Afghanistan, Mawlawi Bakht-ur-Rahman Sharafat, Deputy Minister of Railways at the Ministry of Public Works, attended the event.
Acting Minister of Labor and Social Affairs, Abdul Manan Omari, participated as head of the Islamic Emirate delegation in the 27th St. Petersburg International Economic Forum held in Russia.
Importantly so-called Khalifa Sirajuddin Haqqani, the Acting Minister of Interior, and Mullah Abdul Haq Wasiq, the Chief of General Intelligence of the Taliban held a high-level meeting with Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the Emir of the United Arab Emirates, in Abu Dhabi on June 04.
This comes a day prior to UN Security Council Sanctions Committee lifting travel restrictions on four senior officials of the Taliban officials who wish to participate in the Hajj pilgrimage issued on June 05. Sirajuddin Haqqani, Minister of Interior, Mawlawi Abdul Kabir, Deputy Prime Minister for Political Affairs, Abdul Haq Wasiq, Intelligence Chief, and Noor Mohammad Saqib, Minister of Hajj and Religious Affairs were granted permission to attend the Hajj pilgrimage in Saudi Arabia. Nevertheless, they were in the UAE meeting the Emir in a highly publicised visit.
Ironically, Matthew Miller, the spokesperson for the US State Department on June 04, urged countries to adhere to the travel ban on Taliban officials.
As per Afghanistan International Sirajuddin Haqqani, the Taliban’s Minister of Interior was to meet US security officials during his visit to the United Arab Emirates.
Meanwhile Iran held a regional meeting on Afghanistan, known as the “Moscow Format,” on June 8, in Tehran, with representatives from Russia, China, Iran, and Pakistan in attendance. The agenda was ostensibly to discuss the Doha III to be held in end of June.
The acting Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi has outlined the Taliban demand for participation in the third Doha meeting including possibly exclusion of women and rights groups and other political personae representing the country.
Russia’s Differential Approach
Meanwhile Russia seems to be taking a different approach as Russian President Vladimir Putin, has emphasized the importance of engaging with the Islamic Emirate, while also stressing the need for an inclusive government in Afghanistan. Mr Putin said: "Security and stability in Afghanistan are more important than economic opportunities for us and Uzbekistan. The Taliban must fulfil their promises regarding an inclusive government that includes all ethnic groups and political factions."
The Russian president, referring to establishing relations with the Islamic Emirate, said: "There are problems in Afghanistan that everyone is aware of, but we must engage with the current government. Russia is also considering removal of the Taliban from the list of terrorist groups banned by Moscow. Even now the ban remains in place only nominally.
This comes as Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, the President of Kazakhstan, announced that the Taliban has been removed from the list of terrorist groups.
Taliban Obduracy on Rights
Attempts by integration of the Taliban in the international community are apparently with a view to engage the group to soften the approach towards rights. However there does not seem to be any parallel recompense from Kabul which continues to follow a hardline stance on most rights issues.
After recent floggings in Sar e Pul province. Zabihullah Mujahid, the spokesperson for the Islamic Emirate, told TOLOnews that the implementation of Sharia punishments is based on court decisions and that international organizations should not speak against Islamic laws. Mujahid said: "The concern is unnecessary. The punishments that are implemented are based on court rulings and are in accordance with Islamic Sharia, which the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan is obligated to implement in society. Society also demands punishments for criminals."
The National Examinations Authority of Afghanistan has commenced nationwide university entrance exam (Kankor exam) in 16 provinces on June 6. Since the Taliban took power in Afghanistan, this is the second consecutive year that girls have been barred from participating Kanko exam. It has been the third consecutive that girls’ and women’s access to education beyond the sixth grade has been barred as per the Khaama report.
As for the inclusive government – the Taliban claim that their administration is inclusive and includes all ethnicity referring to a sprinkling of Uzbek and Tajik representation in the top leadership. Large number of officials are also cited as signs of inclusiveness.
Risks Ahead
The Taliban is clearly exploiting the divide in the international community with the United States and the West seeking implementation of rights for any concessions to the regime whereas the United Nations Secretary General is keen to seek a change in the Taliban approach through engagement and participation in Doha III.
Russia is also leading Central Asian countries to adopt a softer approach even though many of these countries are flagging concerns on presence of terrorist groups in Northern Afghanistan.
Taliban is also exploiting the humanitarian considerations for engagement adopted by the international community as more resources are being poured in to avoid a series of crisis faced by the people from floods to earthquakes and thousands being deported from Afghanistan and Iran.
Quasi recognition of the Taliban carries risks of undermining a large section of the Afghan population including women and non Pashtun ethnic communities and there are no signs that the Taliban will relent on universal human rights as a quid pro quo.
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