KABUL, AFGHANISTAN – The United Nations Under-Secretary-General for Political and Peacebuilding Affairs has held talks with the Taliban’s interior minister as part of a visit to Afghanistan.
According to a statement released on Sunday (January 25) by the Taliban-run Ministry of Interior, Rosemary DiCarlo met with Sirajuddin Haqqani, the Taliban’s acting interior minister, to discuss a range of issues including international engagement, counter-narcotics efforts, banking restrictions, and humanitarian assistance.
The ministry said Haqqani claimed that the Taliban have taken “serious and practical measures” against the cultivation, production, and trafficking of narcotics, asserting that these actions have led to “positive results.” Independent verification of these claims was not provided.
The statement added that both sides discussed what it described as “constructive engagement” between the Taliban and the international community, stressing that cooperation based on “mutual respect” and recognition of “realities on the ground” could help build trust.
The Taliban also claimed that the UN delegation praised the current security situation and progress in counter-narcotics efforts, and assured the continuation of humanitarian assistance to Afghanistan. The ministry further stated that the UN delegation emphasized the importance of continued engagement and indicated that the next meeting of the Doha Process working groups would be held in Kabul under Taliban hosting.
Earlier in her visit, DiCarlo also met with Amir Khan Muttaqi, the Taliban’s acting foreign minister.
So far, the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) has not issued an official statement regarding the visit or clarified its agenda, leaving questions about the scope and objectives of the meetings.
