The first meeting of special representatives of Afghanistan’s neighboring countries was held on Tuesday, in Tashkent, the capital of Uzbekistan.
Representatives from Iran, Uzbekistan, Pakistan, China, Russia, Turkmenistan, and Tajikistan participated in the meeting, aimed at discussing the current situation in Afghanistan.
The representatives of the neighboring countries discussed the current situation in Afghanistan, emphasized finding solutions to the existing issues, and establishing long-lasting peace in the war-torn country. Continuing the delivery of humanitarian aid to the people of Afghanistan during these difficult times also conversed during the meeting.
The meeting was held in the absence of the Taliban representatives in Tashkent. Besides, several neighboring countries including Russia, China, Iran, and Pakistan have officially handed over the Afghan Embassies to the Taliban diplomats, but the group is still not invited to such meetings on regional levels.
Afghanistan’s neighboring countries have repeatedly called on the Islamic Emirate authorities to respect human rights, lift the restrictions on women and girls attending education, and form an all-inclusive government so that everyone can see them represented in the regime. However, the Taliban officials have their own priorities and policies regarding these major challenges.
The de facto regime of Afghanistan has neither internal legitimacy nor external recognition so far, which is why the Taliban representatives and diplomats are not invited to major international conferences.
On the one hand, the Taliban-run administration is accused of violating human rights, the rights of women, girls, religious minorities, and ethnic groups, and on the other hand, they call on the international community to recognize the interim regime and engage with the Taliban group.
