Envoys calls for UN donor conference to prevent Afghan humanitarian crisis

Moscow, Oct 20 (EFE).- An international meeting in Moscow Wednesday urged the United Nations to hold a donor conference to prevent a humanitarian crisis in post-war Afghanistan.

Envoys, including the Taliban, from 10 countries, huddled together in the Russian capital to discuss the changing situation in the war-ravaged country after the Islamist militia returned to power in Kabul.

Russian special envoy for Afghanistan Zamir Kabulov told reporters at the end of the Moscow conference that participants arrived at a consensus that it was necessary “to help the Afghan people avoid an imminent crisis.”

He said the proposed international donor conference should focus on social and economic assistance to reconstruct post-war Afghanistan.

Kabulov said the envoys discussed the recognition of the Taliban interim government, but any decision regarding that would be premature as of now.

“Of course,” he said when asked if the meeting talked about the global recognition of the Taliban administration.

So far, no nation has officially recognized the new Afghan government, even as many countries have maintained de facto contact with the ruling Taliban.

There has been a global demand for an inclusive Afghan government with women leaders and representation from all ethnic minorities for the Taliban to get international legitimacy.

The Russian envoy said the recognition would happen when the Taliban would begin to fulfill expectations of the international community regarding “human rights and a truly inclusive a government.”

He said the Taliban delegation did not give any deadline to form an inclusive government.

The overwhelming-Taliban government does not have woman leaders and has only a few representatives from non-Pashtun ethnic groups in tier 2 lower positions.

Afghan Deputy Prime Minister for Economic Affairs Abdul Salam Hanafi, who led the Taliban delegation to the Russian capital, told the meeting that the Taliban government was inclusive.

“Our people are very happy with this great achievement. Therefore, we want the international community to recognize the current government of Afghanistan,” Hanafi said.

The Taliban leader said the government had assured the world that they would not allow terror activities from Afghan territory to harm any country.

“We want our neighboring countries, the region, and the world respect our sovereignty. We want friendly relations with our neighbors and all other countries based on mutual respect.”

The meeting was the third edition of the so-called “Moscow Format” of consultations on Afghanistan and the first since the Taliban seized power in Kabul on Aug.15.

Moscow invited representatives from China, Pakistan, Iran, and India for the talks.

The United States declined to attend after its special envoy for Afghanistan, Zalmay Khalilzad, resigned following criticism over the hasty US military withdrawal from Kabul.

Washington cited “logistical difficulties” for its inability to attend the meeting.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov regretted the absence of the US at the negotiations.