Pakistan will send a team to Qatar to attend a two-day conference on Afghanistan beginning Sunday, the foreign office in Islamabad said on Friday, citing the decision as part of its efforts to promote long-term peace and development in the region.
The summit, hosted by UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, will bring together member states and special envoys from regional organizations to explore strengthening international participation in Afghanistan.
The agenda intends to cover crucial problems like as human rights, particularly the rights of women and children, inclusive government, counter-terrorism, and drug trafficking, with the objective of establishing an agreement on how to engage with the Taliban on these critical matters.
“Ambassador Asif Durrani, Pakistan’s Special Representative on Afghanistan, will lead the Pakistan delegation at the Meeting of Special Envoys on Afghanistan to be held on 18-19 February 2024 in Doha,” the foreign ministry stated in a tweet on social media. “The meeting is being convened by the UN Secretary-General to discuss approaches for international engagement with Afghanistan in a more coherent and structured manner.”
“Pakistan’s participation in the meeting is part of our efforts to actively engage with the international community, including the United Nations, to strengthen the efforts for lasting peace and prosperity in Afghanistan,” the statement said.
The conference in Doha will feature collective discussions with special envoys, as well as representatives from Afghan women’s organizations and civil society.
The event is expected to serve as a starting point for more inclusive intra-Afghan conversations, aided by the UN’s attempts to develop a more permanent framework for tackling Afghanistan’s difficulties.
Only the day before, the World Bank’s executive board approved the notion of allocating around $300 million to assist Afghans living outside of Taliban authority.
Maria Ghanchi