After Oslo talks, what’s next for Afghanistan?
2 years, 10 months ago

After Oslo talks, what’s next for Afghanistan?

Al Jazeera  

Analysts say talks between Taliban and US and European officials imply a ‘de facto’ recognition of the Taliban government. Kabul, Afghanistan/Islamabad, Pakistan – A week after Taliban and senior US and European officials held talks in the Norwegian capital, Oslo, the main outcome appears to be promises of an increase in humanitarian aid, contingent on demands related to human rights, with some analysts saying the talks imply a “de facto” recognition of the Taliban’s government. “Without doubt, the Oslo talks were a gigantic achievement to the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan,” said Shafi Azam, a foreign ministry official in the Afghan Taliban government. “To alleviate poverty in Afghanistan, development projects must resume, sanctions on the banking sector of Afghanistan must lifted and central banks assets must unfrozen.” Azam, the Afghan foreign ministry official, said the Taliban had, during the Oslo talks, given “assurance of security to for spreading out their assistance all over the country”. “It is not the task of the international community to define an inclusive Afghan government,” said EU Special Envoy on Afghanistan Tomas Niklasson, responding to a statement by Afghan acting Foreign Minister Muttaqi.

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History of this topic

Taliban to press international community on Afghanistan sanctions
5 months, 3 weeks ago

Taliban to press international community on Afghanistan sanctions

The Hindu  

Taliban authorities said on July 1 they would press the international community over economic sanctions as they attended a UN-hosted summit in Doha with special representatives to Afghanistan for the first time. Writing on X, formerly Twitter, senior Foreign Ministry official Zakir Jalaly said the Taliban government delegation would use July 1’s meetings to address “financial and banking sanctions” and …

UN Doha Conference on Afghanistan Fails to Achieve Key Goals
9 months ago

UN Doha Conference on Afghanistan Fails to Achieve Key Goals

The Diplomat  

A high-level conference on Afghanistan from February 18-19 failed to achieve its primary objectives, leaving many participants disappointed. The two primary objectives of the Doha meeting were to delineate a course for international engagement with Afghanistan and to facilitate dialogue between the Taliban and the global community on vital issues such as women’s rights, girls’ education, and the eagerly awaited …

2 Years of Taliban Diplomacy
1 year, 4 months ago

2 Years of Taliban Diplomacy

The Diplomat  

August 15 marked two years of Taliban rule in Afghanistan, a milestone the Islamic Emirate celebrated by emphasizing that its rule is “open-ended” and faces no challengers. Traders come and go and transfer goods.” Despite lacking de jure recognition, the Taliban government’s engagements with regional players have soared in the past two years. As the Taliban navigate ties with regional …

In a first, India and Pakistan special envoys participate in Western talks with Taliban in Norway
1 year, 6 months ago

In a first, India and Pakistan special envoys participate in Western talks with Taliban in Norway

The Hindu  

Taliban representatives met with Indian and Pakistani special envoys and officials amongst a number of international diplomats this week, in an effort by the Norwegian Government to break the impasse in talks on the sidelines of a peace conference in Oslo. The talks, which came in for criticism from Afghan diaspora groups, including in Norway, for “legitimising” the insurgent group …

The Taliban needs to start an intra-Afghan dialogue but with who?
1 year, 8 months ago

The Taliban needs to start an intra-Afghan dialogue but with who?

Al Jazeera  

For the past year and a half, the Taliban has taken the international community and the Afghan population on a ride – a ride so wild that it has left its own high-ranking officials dizzy as well. But there is another issue that is quite important in which the Taliban has also failed to make any progress: national dialogue and …

UAE set to run Kabul airport in new deal with Taliban: Report
2 years, 5 months ago

UAE set to run Kabul airport in new deal with Taliban: Report

Live Mint  

The Taliban and the United Arab Emirates are poised to strike a deal for the Gulf nation to run Kabul airport and several others in Afghanistan, media reports said on Thursday. In December 2021, Turkish and Qatari companies signed a memorandum to operate the Kabul airport, and airports in the provinces of Balkh, Herat, Kandahar and Khost, which are currently …

Taliban, Western officials meet in Oslo to discuss Afghanistan
2 years, 11 months ago

Taliban, Western officials meet in Oslo to discuss Afghanistan

Al Jazeera  

Taliban and Western diplomats are holding a meeting outside Norway’s capital Oslo for talks focused on Afghanistan’s humanitarian crisis, which has escalated drastically since last August when the Taliban stormed back to power 20 years after being toppled in a US-led invasion. “We are requesting them to unfreeze Afghan assets and not punish ordinary Afghans because of the political discourse,” …

Norway invites Taliban delegation for talks on Human rights, other issues
2 years, 11 months ago

Norway invites Taliban delegation for talks on Human rights, other issues

Op India  

In the midst of Afghanistan’s deteriorating humanitarian crisis, a Taliban delegation led by acting Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi began three days of discussions with Western government officials and Afghan civil society groups in Oslo in Norway on Sunday. We will make strong demands on the Taliban, but we do not know if they will implement them afterwards.” According to …

Taliban delegation begins talks in Oslo
2 years, 11 months ago

Taliban delegation begins talks in Oslo

Al Jazeera  

Al Jazeera has learned that the Afghan group will be pushed on women’s rights in return for access to frozen funds. A Taliban delegation led by acting Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi has started three days of talks in Oslo with Western government officials and Afghan civil society representatives. Starting on Sunday, the closed-door meetings in the Norwegian capital will …

Taliban delegation to hold humanitarian talks in Norway
2 years, 11 months ago

Taliban delegation to hold humanitarian talks in Norway

Al Jazeera  

Norway’s foreign minister stresses that the planned visit is not a ‘legitimisation or recognition of the Taliban’. A Taliban delegation will hold talks with Western officials in Oslo next week on human rights and humanitarian aid in their first official visit to the West since returning to power, the Norwegian and Taliban governments have said. The Norwegian foreign ministry said …

Aid for Afghanistan discussed in Islamic countries meet
3 years ago

Aid for Afghanistan discussed in Islamic countries meet

Hindustan Times  

Envoys from 57 Islamic nations were meeting in Pakistan Sunday for a summit aimed at relieving the humanitarian crisis in neighbouring Afghanistan while testing diplomatic ties with its new Taliban rulers. Taliban foreign minister Amir Khan Muttaqi is among the delegates, alongside others from the United States, China, Russia, the European Union and the United Nations. No nations have yet …

Islamic countries meet to discuss aid for Afghanistan
3 years ago

Islamic countries meet to discuss aid for Afghanistan

Deccan Chronicle  

ISLAMABAD: Envoys from 57 Islamic nations as well as observer delegations were meeting in Pakistan Sunday for a summit aimed at relieving the humanitarian crisis in neighbouring Afghanistan, while testing diplomatic ties with its new Taliban rulers. Taliban foreign minister Amir Khan Muttaqi is among the delegates, alongside others from the United States, China, Russia, the European Union and the …

Pakistan ‘welcomes’ second round of US-Taliban talks in Doha
3 years ago

Pakistan ‘welcomes’ second round of US-Taliban talks in Doha

Al Jazeera  

The foreign ministry reiterates the country’s position that the world community needs to engage with the Taliban government. Pakistan has “welcomed” a second round of talks between the United States and the Taliban since the latter’s takeover of Afghanistan earlier this year, a Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesperson says. US Special Representative on Afghanistan and Pakistan Tom West will arrive …

Taliban interested in talks with world for recognition: Pak Foreign Minister Qureshi
3 years, 1 month ago

Taliban interested in talks with world for recognition: Pak Foreign Minister Qureshi

India Today  

Pakistan Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi has said the Taliban were interested in having communication with the world so that their government is recognised and warned the international community not to repeat the mistakes of the past when the isolation of Afghanistan created multiple problems. Addressing the opening session of the Troika Plus meeting on Afghanistan attended by representatives from …

NSA meet seeks urgent help for Afghans
3 years, 1 month ago

NSA meet seeks urgent help for Afghans

The Hindu  

The Third Regional Security Dialogue on Afghanistan held here on Wednesday called for “urgent humanitarian assistance” to the Afghan people. A joint statement titled the ‘Delhi Declaration’ issued after the meeting called for “collective cooperation” against terrorism and drug trafficking in the region and “expressed concern over the deteriorating socio-economic and humanitarian situation in Afghanistan and underlined the need to …

Pakistan foreign Minister Qureshi, ISI chief Hameed in Kabul for talks with Taliban
3 years, 2 months ago

Pakistan foreign Minister Qureshi, ISI chief Hameed in Kabul for talks with Taliban

Firstpost  

The Pakistani delegation will hold talks with Afghanistan’s acting foreign minister Amir Khan Muttaqi and call on leadership of the interim government in Kabul and other Afghan leaders, according to the Foreign Office Islamabad: Pakistan’s foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi travelled to Kabul on Thursday along with spy agency ISI chief Lt Gen Faiz Hameed to hold talks with Afghanistan’s …

Amid flurry of Taliban diplomacy, Qatar stresses engagement
3 years, 2 months ago

Amid flurry of Taliban diplomacy, Qatar stresses engagement

Associated Press  

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates — Qatar’s foreign minister said isolating Afghanistan and its new Taliban rulers “will never be an answer” and argued Wednesday that engaging with the former insurgents could empower the more moderate voices among them. Al Thani told an audience of counterterrorism specialists in Doha that Qatar believes the international community should urge the Taliban “to take …

Taliban, US conclude ‘candid, professional’ talks in Doha
3 years, 2 months ago

Taliban, US conclude ‘candid, professional’ talks in Doha

Al Jazeera  

US side focused on security, women’s rights and evacuations while Taliban called for international recognition and an end to sanctions. Delegates from the Taliban and the United States have held “candid and professional” talks in the Qatari capital, according to a US official, with the two-day discussions focusing on security and “terrorism” concerns, the rights of women and girls as …

US, Taliban to hold first talks since Afghanistan withdrawal
3 years, 2 months ago

US, Taliban to hold first talks since Afghanistan withdrawal

Deccan Chronicle  

Islamabad: Senior Taliban officials and U.S. representatives are to hold talks Saturday and Sunday about containing extremist groups in Afghanistan and easing the evacuation of foreign citizens and Afghans from the country, officials from both sides said. It's the first such meeting since U.S. forces withdrew from Afghanistan in late August, ending a 20-year military presence there, and the Taliban's …

Taliban still struggling for international recognition
3 years, 2 months ago

Taliban still struggling for international recognition

Al Jazeera  

Group spent the last two years courting world leaders but has found it difficult to gain acceptance since taking power in August. The Taliban’s diplomatic isolation is in contrast to the last 10 years, which saw the group making several trips across the region as part of their peace efforts with the US administration. ‘Taliban part of Afghanistan’s reality’ Janan …

World reacts as Taliban announces new Afghan government
3 years, 3 months ago

World reacts as Taliban announces new Afghan government

Al Jazeera  

US expresses concern over ‘track record’ of people named to top posts, while UN agency decries exclusion of women from government. The Taliban has announced an all-male caretaker government drawn exclusively from its inner echelons, including a man under United Nations sanctions as prime minister and another on a United States “terrorism” list as interior minister. United States The US …

Taliban postpone Afghan govt formation again, struggle to give shape to 'inclusive administration'
3 years, 3 months ago

Taliban postpone Afghan govt formation again, struggle to give shape to 'inclusive administration'

India TV News  

The Taliban have postponed the formation of a new government in Afghanistan for next week, their spokesman Zabiullah Mujahid said on Saturday, as the insurgent group struggles to give shape to a broad-based and inclusive administration acceptable to the international community. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Friday said that America and the international community expect the Taliban in …

Taliban to finalise new Afghan govt soon, 80% Doha team likely to be in council
3 years, 3 months ago

Taliban to finalise new Afghan govt soon, 80% Doha team likely to be in council

Firstpost  

The executives of this Council will lead the government and Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar is likely to head the political office, the Taliban sources said, adding that 80 per cent of this government will be from the Doha Taliban team. The Taliban have finalised their new government in Afghanistan nearly a fortnight after their violent takeover of Afghanistan - a …

Taliban may announce framework for new Afghan government soon
3 years, 4 months ago

Taliban may announce framework for new Afghan government soon

Hindustan Times  

The Taliban is likely to announce a framework for setting up of the new government in Afghanistan in a few weeks, the country’s television channel Tolo News reported on the basis of a conversation between an official of the Islamist militia and news agency Reuters. The legal, religious and foreign policy experts in the Taliban were deliberating on the framework …

Taliban leader Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar to meet jihadi leaders for talks on govt formation in Afghanistan
3 years, 4 months ago

Taliban leader Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar to meet jihadi leaders for talks on govt formation in Afghanistan

India TV News  

Taliban co-founder Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar on Saturday arrived in Kabul to meet jihadi leaders and politicians for an inclusive government set-up. Gulbuddin Hekmatyar, the leader of HIzb-e-Islami party, had earlier said that formal talks between the Afghan political leaders and the Taliban will start once the Taliban leaders arrive in Kabul. "He will be in Kabul to meet jihadi …

Taliban appeals for international recognition; says China has 'big role' to play
3 years, 4 months ago

Taliban appeals for international recognition; says China has 'big role' to play

India TV News  

The Taliban have appealed to the international community to recognize it amid growing resentment against it at home and abroad, even as the Afghan militant group sought to placate China, saying Beijing can play a “big role” under its rule in the strife-torn country. Taliban spokesman Suhail Shaheen said the international community should "respect the will of the Afghan people" …

Former Afghan President Hamid Karzai holds talks with senior Taliban leader
3 years, 4 months ago

Former Afghan President Hamid Karzai holds talks with senior Taliban leader

Hindustan Times  

A Taliban commander and senior leader of the Haqqani Network militant group, Anas Haqqani, met for talks with former Afghan President Hamid Karzai, a Taliban official told Reuters on Wednesday. The former Afghan President and chief peace envoy have been negotiating with senior leaders of the Taliban since the fall of Kabul. Senior Taliban leader Amir Khan Muttaqi has already …

Kabul safer under Taliban than previous authorities: Russian ambassador to Afghanistan
3 years, 4 months ago

Kabul safer under Taliban than previous authorities: Russian ambassador to Afghanistan

India TV News  

The Russian ambassador to Afghanistan Dmitry Zhirnov in an unexpected comment said that Kabul is safer under Taliban rule than it was under previous authorities. " Zhrinov's statement came soon after Moscow's envoy to the UN talked about interacting with the Taliban "irrespective of the evolving situation and their specific actions" in Afghanistan. "According to our report, the Taliban has …

Taliban Leadership May Arrive in Kabul Today, Plans on 'Broad-based Govt' to Get Int'l Legitimacy
3 years, 4 months ago

Taliban Leadership May Arrive in Kabul Today, Plans on 'Broad-based Govt' to Get Int'l Legitimacy

News 18  

Taliban leadership is likely to arrive in Kabul from Doha on Monday, sources told News18. Former Afghanistan president Hamid Karzai, Afghan Reconciliation Council head Abdullah Abdullah and former PM Gulbuddin Hekmatyar are trying to negotiate with the militant group to establish an interim broad-based government. Victorious Taliban fighters patrolled Kabul on Monday after a stunningly swift end to Afghanistan’s 20-year …

Taliban discuss future of govt in Doha; this is a test for us, says top leader
3 years, 4 months ago

Taliban discuss future of govt in Doha; this is a test for us, says top leader

India Today  

The Taliban said they are discussing the future of their government's course, including its structure and name, in a meeting in Doha. A TOLOnews report mentioned that the Taliban leadership is busy in discussions in Doha and they are in touch with the international community and political parties within Afghanistan. The current situation is a test for the Taliban, said …

As Taliban Close in on Kabul, New Peace Deal Being Drawn. Ghani to Go - News18
3 years, 4 months ago

As Taliban Close in on Kabul, New Peace Deal Being Drawn. Ghani to Go - News18

News 18  

A day after its offer of a power-sharing deal was quashed by the Taliban who continue to blitz through provinces in Afghanistan and are currently less than 80 km away from Kabul, the peace negotiations committee is drawing up a new plan which will see the complete ouster of President Ashraf Ghani’s government. Al Jazeera quoted government sources who said …

Afghan gov’t delegation, Taliban to talk peace in Qatar: Official
3 years, 5 months ago

Afghan gov’t delegation, Taliban to talk peace in Qatar: Official

Al Jazeera  

Doha talks will be led by Abdullah Abdullah, with ex-President Hamid Karzai among delegates, says an Afghan official. A high-powered Afghanistan government delegation, which will include the head of the country’s reconciliation council, is to meet the Taliban in Qatar to jumpstart a long-stalled peace process, says an Afghan official, according to a report by The Associated Press news agency. …

Afghan gov’t delegation meets Taliban in Iran
3 years, 5 months ago

Afghan gov’t delegation meets Taliban in Iran

Al Jazeera  

Tehran hosts the first significant peace talks in months in a previously unannounced meeting that comes as US forces leave. An Afghan government delegation has met Taliban representatives in Tehran, the Iranian foreign ministry says, as the armed group makes significant advances amid a pullout of US troops. A joint statement released after the talks on Thursday said the Afghan …

Talks with Taliban making ‘very little progress’ as militant group gains momentum, says top Afghan official
3 years, 5 months ago

Talks with Taliban making ‘very little progress’ as militant group gains momentum, says top Afghan official

CNN  

Kabul, Afghanistan CNN — As US President Joe Biden prepares for the formal withdrawal of American troops from Afghanistan, the man responsible for peace talks between the rampant Taliban and the official Afghan government is not entirely optimistic about the country’s future. Naeem accused the Afghan government’s negotiating team of being incomplete during May’s peace talks in Doha, due to …

Why Afghanistan-Taliban peace talks have not reached breakthrough
3 years, 11 months ago

Why Afghanistan-Taliban peace talks have not reached breakthrough

Al Jazeera  

Negotiators are back in Doha for a second round of peace talks between the Afghan government and the Taliban. Doha, Qatar – It has been almost a week since negotiators arrived back in Doha to resume a second round of peace talks between the Afghan government and the Taliban, with a United States team talking separately to both sides. In …

Pakistan’s PM Khan in ‘historic’ first visit to Afghanistan
4 years, 1 month ago

Pakistan’s PM Khan in ‘historic’ first visit to Afghanistan

Associated Press  

KABUL, Afghanistan — Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan met with Afghan President Ashraf Ghani on his first official visit to Kabul on Thursday, focusing on the ongoing peace talks with the Taliban as well as on building trust and strengthening relations between the two often acrimonious neighbors. Ghani called Khan’s visit “historic” while the Pakistani prime minister assured the Afghan …

Intra-Afghan peace dialogue: A reluctant handshake
4 years, 2 months ago

Intra-Afghan peace dialogue: A reluctant handshake

The Hindu  

It was the first time that the Taliban leadership agreed to have prolonged face-to-face meetings with top representatives of the government in Afghanistan. Under a February deal signed with the U.S., the Taliban promised not to have ties with “terror” outfits or allow Afghan territory to be used for attacks against American targets. Baradar, on his part, said that the …

Khalilzad: 'A Moment For The Afghan Leaders Not To Repeat The Mistakes Of The Past'
4 years, 2 months ago

Khalilzad: 'A Moment For The Afghan Leaders Not To Repeat The Mistakes Of The Past'

NPR  

Khalilzad: 'A Moment For The Afghan Leaders Not To Repeat The Mistakes Of The Past' Enlarge this image toggle caption Rahmat Gul/AP Rahmat Gul/AP "The fact that the Afghans are sitting across the table for the first time in 42 years is a moment of hope and opportunity," U.S. Special Representative for Afghanistan Reconciliation Zalmay Khalilzad tells NPR. Peace talks …

‘Historic’ peace talks between Taliban and Afghan government begin in Doha
4 years, 3 months ago

‘Historic’ peace talks between Taliban and Afghan government begin in Doha

The Independent  

Sign up to Simon Calder’s free travel email for expert advice and money-saving discounts Get Simon Calder’s Travel email Get Simon Calder’s Travel email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy “Historic” peace talks between the Afghan government and the Taliban are underway for the first time …

Warring Afghans meet to find peace after decades of war
4 years, 3 months ago

Warring Afghans meet to find peace after decades of war

Associated Press  

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates — Afghanistan’s warring sides started negotiations for the first time, bringing together the Taliban and delegates appointed by the Afghan government Saturday for historic meetings aimed at ending decades of war. But following a meeting with the Taliban on Saturday in Doha, Washington’s peace envoy Zalmay Khalilzad said the U.S. and every Afghan would like to …

Afghanistan-Taliban Talks Begin In Attempt To End 19 Years Of Bloodshed
4 years, 3 months ago

Afghanistan-Taliban Talks Begin In Attempt To End 19 Years Of Bloodshed

NPR  

Afghanistan-Taliban Talks Begin In Attempt To End 19 Years Of Bloodshed Enlarge this image toggle caption Hussein Sayed/AP Hussein Sayed/AP Afghanistan's warring factions have officially begun what is likely to be a long and arduous process of negotiating a peaceful and prosperous future after nearly two decades of war. The Trump administration paved the way for the negotiations — the …

'Truly momentous' talks open between Taliban, Afghan government
4 years, 3 months ago

'Truly momentous' talks open between Taliban, Afghan government

India Today  

Peace talks between the Taliban and the Afghan government opened in Qatar on Saturday, marking what US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo heralded as a "truly momentous" breakthrough in nearly two decades of relentless conflict. "We will undoubtedly encounter many challenges in the talks over the coming days, weeks and months," Pompeo said as he called for the warring sides …

Talks Between Afghan Govt And Taliban Could be Major Step; but Divergent Goals Won't Assure Peace
4 years, 3 months ago

Talks Between Afghan Govt And Taliban Could be Major Step; but Divergent Goals Won't Assure Peace

News 18  

The Afghan government and the Taliban will this weekend begin talks to end nearly two decades of war, though few expect a peace deal any time soon. The Taliban, who have refused to recognise President Ashraf Ghani’s government, will push to reshape Afghanistan into an Islamic “emirate”. So far, the Taliban have only made vague pledges to protect women’s rights …

Taliban\'s negotiating team in Pakistan for Afghan peace talks
4 years, 4 months ago

Taliban\'s negotiating team in Pakistan for Afghan peace talks

Deccan Chronicle  

Islamabad: Pakistan has invited key members of the Taliban's negotiating team to Islamabad, where senior officials will this week press them on the importance of starting peace talks, the country's foreign minister said Monday. Qureshi said Islamabad had invited the Taliban to Pakistan to stress the importance of talks, saying negotiations were the "the only way forward" in Afghanistan. In …

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