Pakistan to back UN special envoy on Afghanistan as Doha conference begins

ISLAMABAD:

Pakistan backs the appointment of a UN special envoy on Afghanistan as the crucial conference to discuss the way forward for the neighbouring country kicked off in Qatar’s Doha on Sunday.

The UN-sponsored two-day conference is being attended by special envoys from over 20 countries, human rights activists, and representatives opposed to the Taliban regime. The Afghan Taliban declined the invitation after the organizers refused to accommodate its concerns.

The Taliban wanted to be treated as the only true representative of Afghanistan and to have other delegates invited with their consent.

The Pakistani delegation is led by the special envoy on Afghanistan, Ambassador Asif Durrani. He is also accompanied by Pakistan's head of mission in Kabul and other senior foreign ministry officials.

The conference is discussing the independent assessment of the UN special coordinator on Afghanistan. The report, submitted in November last year, recommends a series of measures to engage with the Taliban government while ensuring humanitarian assistance.

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One of the key proposals includes the appointment of a UN special envoy to spearhead international efforts on Afghanistan.

The UNSC adopted the resolution in December, endorsing the recommendations. While the US and its allies backed the idea of a special envoy, China and Russia abstained from voting.

Initially, Pakistan voiced reservations over the appointment of the UN special envoy. But it is now backing the proposal, according to sources. They, however, added that the UN special envoy has to be "Muslim, experienced diplomat, and from the region."

Pakistan's stance is in direct conflict with the Afghan Taliban's position. One official said this was because Islamabad was no longer advocating the Taliban’s case.

Pakistan and Afghan Taliban ties are at loggerheads over the issue of the banned Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP).

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The Taliban government has vehemently opposed the move, insisting that there is no need for such an appointment. The Taliban administration says the appointment of a UN special envoy is only made if the country is in conflict. Afghanistan, the Taliban government stresses, is now functioning as a normal country.

In view of the reservations, the UN conference is trying to evolve a consensus. However, the absence of the Taliban government may complicate the process.

On the first day of the conference, some participants felt the UN could have handled the issue better to ensure the presence of the Taliban delegation.

Others believe that convening the conference at a time when the world is preoccupied with the wars in the Middle East and Ukraine suggests the international community has not forgotten Afghanistan.

Pakistan's special envoy Durrani held a series of meetings with his counterparts from the US, EU, and several other countries. He also met Sohail Shahin, the head of the Afghan Taliban's political office in Doha, and discussed issues of bilateral interest.