Afghanistan: Taliban delegation, EU, US officials hold talks in Doha

A Taliban delegation traveled to Doha, Qatar to speak with representatives of the European Union and the US this week. The meeting comes as the insurgent group seeks to gain recognition and unlock the much-needed aid for Afghanistan.

A delegation of Taliban officials traveled to Doha, Qatar this week to meet with diplomats from the US and the countries under the European Union. The delegation was led by the Afghan acting Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi. The delegation later released a statement announcing that the international community is prepared to take the necessary steps in humanitarian efforts.

“All participants pledged to make all possible efforts for the overall well-being of the Afghan people,” said the insurgent group in a statement. No other specific details were revealed.

The EU’s special representative for Afghanistan Thomas Niklasson, who attended the discussions, said the alliance was committed to sending $569 million in humanitarian assistance to Afghanistan through the UN and other humanitarian organizations. Niklasson also said the insurgent group pledged to open primary and secondary schools for both boys and girls nationwide by March.

“The EU remains committed to the Afghan people and is delivering 500 million euros in assistance through UN and NGOs focusing on food, health, WASH, and protection, education, and livelihood. The two delegations agreed to continue the dialogue through physical and virtual meetings,” tweeted Niklasson.

The meeting with the US and EU diplomats follows the meetings held in Oslo a few weeks back. Human rights and humanitarian aid were the main agenda for the talks between the insurgent group and other diplomats.

The US under President Joe Biden announced that it would be dividing the $7 billion worth of assets seized from Afghanistan’s former government between the Afghan people and the families of the victims of the 9/11 terrorist attacks. However, the move was met with backlash from advocates, who described the move as “theft.”

Afghan-American activist Bilal Askaryar told Al Jazeera that the Afghan people have nothing to do with the 9/11 terrorist attacks. Askaryar said that the proposal to divide the funds is not “justice for 9/11 families, it is theft of public funds from an impoverished nation already on the brink of famine and starvation brought on by the United States’ disastrous withdrawal.”