The new Taliban government in Afghanistan has cut off consular ties with numerous Western embassies, leaving diplomats unsure of their roles. Despite no country officially recognizing the Taliban as the legitimate government, they have replaced ambassadors in neighboring embassies over the past three years. The Afghanistan foreign ministry is now declaring that embassies operating outside of their control will no longer have any responsibility for issuing passports and visas.
The Taliban, who have recently taken control of Afghanistan, have issued new laws that severely restrict the rights of women in public spaces. These laws, approved by supreme leader Hibatullah Akhundzada, ban women from showing their faces or speaking in public. The Taliban have also established a ministry for the "propagation of virtue and the prevention of vice" to enforce these laws, which cover everything from public transportation and music to clothing and celebrations. This move has sparked concern among human rights groups and is a major setback for the already struggling Afghan media landscape.
At the Paris 2024 Olympics, B-Girl Manizha Talash from the Refugee Olympic Team was disqualified after displaying a political message during her breaking routine. Talash's message aimed to highlight the plight of women under Taliban rule in Afghanistan, but it led to controversy when she was disqualified for breaching Olympic regulations. In other Olympic news, Algerian boxer Imane Khelif made history by claiming the first Olympic gold medal in boxing for a woman from Africa and the Arab world.
In a significant development, the Taliban will attend the third round of the UN-hosted Special Envoys and Special Representatives meeting in Doha. This will be their first formal appearance on the international stage since seizing control of Afghanistan. The talks will focus on securing guarantees from the Taliban regarding women's rights and enabling the private sector, among other issues. With representatives from nearly 30 countries in attendance, the meeting highlights the world's attempt to find a unified approach towards engagement with the Taliban government.
The Afghan Taliban, who had skipped the last two UN meetings about Afghanistan, have agreed to join the third meeting on June 30. Their attendance is seen as a positive step towards global recognition and engagement with the Taliban-led government. However, tensions between the Afghan government and the Taliban remain, as the government has requested certain conditions for the meeting and the Taliban's demands to be included in the talks are met with resistance from the UN. Experts see the Taliban's participation as a gradual attempt to integrate into the international community.
The United Nations has announced that Deputy Secretary-General Rosemary DiCarlo will lead the upcoming third Doha Meeting for Afghanistan, which will discuss issues such as the inclusion of women and women's rights in the country. Ms. DiCarlo will meet separately with representatives from the Taliban, Afghan civil society, and other stakeholders. This move comes after criticism that the UN has neglected the issue of women's rights in previous meetings, which were led by Secretary-General António Guterres. Despite this, UN Special Envoy Rosa Otunbayeva has stated that women's rights will be addressed in areas such as combating drug trafficking at the third Doha meeting.
Despite billions of dollars in international aid, Afghanistan is still facing massive poverty and vulnerability to natural disasters, exacerbated by the Taliban's takeover in August 2021. The UN has highlighted the dire situation in a briefing to the Security Council, raising concerns over major salary cuts for women civil servants and the restriction of vital human capital. As the country struggles to implement the Taliban's policy of self-reliance, the international community is called upon to provide urgent assistance for the humanitarian needs in Afghanistan.
Pakistan's ambassador to the UN, Munir Akram, has called for a concerted effort to recover all weapons from groups like the TTP, which pose a threat to peace and security. He also urged an investigation into how such groups acquire sophisticated weapons. The envoy highlighted how the proliferation and misuse of small arms and light weapons was exacerbating conflicts and fueling terrorism. Akram emphasized the importance of the UN PoA and the ITI in addressing these challenges and reiterated Pakistan's commitment to both tools.
The recent meeting and handshake between Taliban official Sirajuddin Haqqani and UAE leader Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan has caused a stir in the international community. The images, released by the state-run WAM news agency, have prompted discussions about the implications of this unexpected interaction. With Haqqani being a designated global terrorist and the UAE being a major player in regional politics, the secretive nature of the meeting has only fueled speculation about the potential outcomes for Afghanistan and global security. As the country navigates through a critical transition period, this meeting highlights the complex and often opaque dynamics at play in shaping its future.
As the T20 World Cup in 2024 continues, the Indian team – led by Rohit Sharma – remains unbeatable, having secured a top spot in Group A. Now, they face a tough challenge in the form of Afghanistan, who have also had a successful start with three wins in a row. With the likes of Josh Hazlewood already plotting strategies to outmatch England, the stage is set for an exciting and intense Super 8 match between the two rising teams. Stay updated with live scores and highlights as India takes on Afghanistan at the Kensington Oval in Barbados.