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KABUL: Norwegian government has invited the Taliban administration to a meeting to be convened on Afghanistan issues with representatives and civil activists of various countries in Oslo this week.
According to official sources, Norway’s foreign ministry invited a second-level Taliban delegation instead of their foreign minister Amir Khan Muttaqi and Anas Haqqani to Oslo Freedom Forum despite opposition from Afghan civil activists and politicians. The conference is aimed discussing and resolving Afghanistan issues and establishing peace through dialogue.
Meanwhile, representatives and civil activists of different countries, including prominent Afghan figures and a delegation of Taliban are in Norway. Participants will discuss freedom, democracy, digital security, artificial intelligence, and other acute world issues.
Following a protest at the previous meeting in Oslo in 2022, Norway did not invite senior Taliban leaders to this meeting. Instead, they invited Abdul Qahar Balkhi, the spokesperson of the Taliban’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs some other officials from the Taliban’s Ministry of Interior and Foreign Affairs.
The participation of the Taliban delegation in the Oslo Forum once more sparked criticism from ordinary Afghans, diaspora groups and activists.
On Tuesday, Afghan Women’s Political Association opposed Norway’s move to have invited the Taliban delegation to the Oslo meeting. In a statement, the association said that Norway had laid the red carpet for human rights violators, who have deprived women of their basic rights to education, employment and other social engagements.
