Taliban refuses to join U.N.-sponsored meeting on Afghanistan

A United Nations-sponsored conference on Afghanistan aimed at improving dialogue with the country’s Taliban rulers has ended after they failed to show up.

DOHA, Qatar — A United Nations-sponsored conference on Afghanistan aimed at improving dialogue with the country’s Taliban rulers has ended after the administration’s representatives failed to show up.

The Taliban-led foreign office refused to attend the meeting in Doha when the U.N. rejected its demand to act as Afghanistan’s sole official representative, United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres said Monday.

Guterres said such conditions were unacceptable, as they were similar to recognizing the Taliban as the country’s legitimate government.

The Afghan foreign office, in a statement issued before the meeting, said the international community’s approach was marked by “unilateral impositions, accusations and pressurization.”

Guterres, speaking at a news conference concluding the two-day meeting, said he would start the process to appoint a U.N. envoy to coordinate engagement between Afghanistan’s Taliban administration and the international community.

https://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/taliban-refuses-join-un-sponsored-meeting-afghanistan-rcna139514

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