Afghanistan Times
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KABUL – In the past twelve days, eight senior Taliban officials have embarked on a series of foreign trips spanning five countries, stirring controversy ahead of the third Doha talks scheduled for June 30 and despite many counts of human rights violations committed by the group.
These travels have included two trips to Russia, one to Qatar, one to Saudi Arabia, and one to the United Arab Emirates, signaling increased international engagement with the Taliban despite their controversial human rights record.
Abdul Manan Omari, brother of late Taliban leader Mullah Mohammad Omar, traveled to Qatar on May 29th to discuss labor issues and prepare for the upcoming Doha meeting.
Omari attended the St. Petersburg Economic Forum in Russia on June 5th, highlighting warming Taliban-Russia relations. Russia’s foreign minister has hinted at removing the Taliban from its terrorist organizations list.
Sirajuddin Haqqani, a high-profile Taliban figure wanted by the FBI, visited Abu Dhabi with other senior officials, meeting the UAE president.
Four Taliban officials, including Sirajuddin Haqqani, participated in the Hajj pilgrimage with travel bans temporarily lifted by the UN sanctions committee.
Taliban ministers for education and higher education attended a conference in Kazan, despite ongoing closures of girls’ schools and universities in Afghanistan.
This is as women’s rights activist Seema Noori criticized the international community for engaging with the Taliban while women’s and girls’ rights are being violated. “Inviting Taliban officials while ignoring human rights abuses shows a conflict between values and political interests,” she stated.
Many also criticize this, asking the world should pressure the Taliban to lift restrictions instead of hosting them for personal interests. Efforts should focus on addressing poverty and reopening educational institutions.”
As the third Doha talks approach, these trips are viewed by some as preparatory measures, while others see them as political concessions gained from regional and Western rivalries.
