The High Council of Resistance for the Salvation of Afghanistan, a group of exiled anti-Taliban leaders, has called for the United Nations and related countries to cancel the “failed Doha Agreement” and instead of interacting with the Taliban, initiate peace talks with the aim of restoring sovereignty to the people of Afghanistan.
In a statement in Persian released after the recent UN meeting in Doha, the council expressed deep concern over the interaction with the Taliban and warned that any interaction that helps the Taliban remain in power will exacerbate the disaster and humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan, including human rights violations, poverty, ethnic cleansing, and terrorism.
The council emphasized that the survival of the Taliban will strengthen the growth and export of terrorism to the countries of the region and the world. It also highlighted the increasing presence of terrorist groups within Afghanistan and warned that the international community will eventually face terrorist attacks through the Taliban’s rule from Afghanistan’s soil.
The council has made a request, stating, “The United Nations and related countries should cancel the failed Doha Agreement and refrain from interacting with the Taliban. Instead, they should initiate peace talks that involve all political parties, influential forces, and various ethnic, linguistic, and religious groups. These talks should take into account a transitional mechanism for a specific duration, with the ultimate objective of reinstating sovereignty to the people of Afghanistan, ensuring the acceptance of their votes, human rights, and particularly, women’s rights.”
The United Nations Secretary-General hosted a closed-door meeting on Monday and Tuesday, which involved special representatives of the countries in Afghanistan affairs. Although it was initially speculated that the meeting would focus on the recognition of the Taliban, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres clarified that the primary aim of the meeting was to develop a global approach to Afghanistan.
He further stated that the participants agreed on the necessity of an engagement strategy to stabilize Afghanistan and address the current challenges.
