by Mitra Majeedy in ToloNews, July 28, 2023 at 9:51 PM
Two days before the Doha meeting, US special envoy Thomas West and US special envoy for Afghan women, girls and human rights, Rina Amiri, in Astana met with the representatives of five Central Asian countries — Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan — and discussed Afghanistan.
Inclusive governance and women’s rights were discussed by the participants of the meeting.
“Many agreed that inclusive governance & women’s rights are integral to economic stability, security & peace. Counterparts underscored that women’s rights are integral in Islam & critical to development, as in their countries,” said Amiri.
“For two years, Afghan women have been far away from the public affairs of the society, and even if they made personal efforts to provide for their lives, they were not allowed. Afghan women are a part of Afghan society. The government has the responsibility to provide ways for their participation in public issues, in education and work, and their presence in the society,” said Surya Paykan, women’s rights activist.
Some political analysts believe that holding such meetings can be effective in solving the country’s problems.
“Such meetings have existed in the past two years and will continue again, but the contact of Mr. West and senior officials of the United States never mean recognizing the Islamic Emirate,” said Wais Naseeri, a political analyst.
“These type of efforts can benefit the people of Afghanistan because they can have a positive effect on the stability of Afghanistan, the region and the world,” said Tariq Farhadi, political analyst.
Meanwhile, there are reports that acting Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttagi has gone to Qatar to participate in the Doha meeting, but so far the Islamic Emirate has not said anything about it.
Earlier, the Islamic Emirate said that in the meeting to be held in two days with American officials in Doha they will discuss the lifting of sanctions against the current government officials and the release of the country’s assets.
https://tolonews.com/afghanistan-184393
