KABUL (SW) – Rosemary DiCarlo, the United Nations Deputy Secretary-General for Political Affairs, recently visited Kabul and met with high-ranking officials of the Islamic Emirate, including Mohammad Abdul Kabir, the Deputy Prime Minister for Political Affairs.
During her visit, DiCarlo described the upcoming Doha meeting as an excellent opportunity to address the issues facing Afghanistan and extended an invitation to the Islamic Emirate to participate in the event.
According to a statement from the ARG, DiCarlo expressed optimism about some progress in Afghanistan. She also met with Amir Khan Muttaqi, the Acting Foreign Minister of the Islamic Emirate.
Deputy Foreign Ministry Spokesman Zia Ahmad Takal stated that the discussions covered “Afghanistan’s relations with the United Nations, the third Doha meeting, and its agenda and composition”.
DiCarlo emphasized that the upcoming Doha meeting could improve Afghanistan’s engagement with the world and address current challenges. She urged the Islamic Emirate to attend the meeting. However, the Islamic Emirate reiterated that its participation is contingent upon the acceptance of its demands.
Political analysts underscore the importance of the Islamic Emirate’s participation in the upcoming Doha meeting. Despite viewing previous Doha meetings as unsuccessful, these analysts believe that the Islamic Emirate’s involvement in the forthcoming meeting is crucial.
They assert that successful participation and outcomes are dependent on the Islamic Emirate addressing key issues, including the right to education for girls and the establishment of an inclusive government.
Abdul Jabbar Akbari, a political analyst, said, “The upcoming Doha meeting could be a turning point for the Islamic Emirate if an Afghan delegation participates and it leads to a political agreement.”
Another political analyst, Abdul Qadir Qanat, added, “The international community, especially Western countries, have clear demands from the current government: the formation of an inclusive government, political participation of women, and the right to education for women. These demands will be raised in the upcoming Doha meeting.”
Meanwhile, some analysts believe that the international community and the UN are not currently serious about addressing Afghanistan’s political issues.
Noor Rahman Saqib, an expert on international relations, suggests that the UN’s current approach is more focused on humanitarian aid than on political solutions. He stated, “I think the Deputy Secretary-General’s visit is more focused on humanitarian issues in Afghanistan rather than political matters, especially given the worsening humanitarian situation due to natural disasters.”
It is worth noting that the Islamic Emirate did not participate in the previous Doha meeting because its demands, including being recognized as the sole representative of Afghanistan and prior involvement in the meeting’s agenda, were not met.
