The United Nations secretary-general Antonio Guterres will begin consultations on the appointment of a UN envoy to coordinate engagement between the Taliban and the international community.

Mr Guterres disclosed this on Monday.

But so far, Afghanistan’s de facto rulers’ demands, which include that the UN representative not speak with other Afghan society representatives and that the UN treat the Taliban as if it were a recognised government, are not acceptable to the international organisation.

Speaking with reporters in Doha, Mr Guterres said he had received a letter from the Taliban government in Kabul demanding these conditions, which the UN cannot accept.

The Taliban refused to attend the UN-chaired high-level meeting of various countries’ special representatives for Afghanistan.

However, Mr Guterres hoped that the Afghan de facto authorities would attend the next round of such meetings.

The top UN official said the international community is stuck with the Taliban government’s recognition, emphasising that despite improvements, the human rights situation has deteriorated and the issue of including various political factions in a broad-based government has not been resolved.

In December, the UN Security Council adopted a resolution asking Mr Gueterres to appoint a special envoy for Afghanistan. The Taliban have consistently been against this.

Most recently, UN Special Coordinator Feridun Sinirlioğlu, in an assessment report, recommended a road map for reintegrating Afghanistan back into the international economic and political system, contingent on the Taliban meeting Afghanistan’s international obligations.

Since returning to power in 2021, the Taliban have rejected calls for the formation of an inclusive government and to ensure women’s rights to education and work.

As a result, no country has recognised its government. The country’s banking reserves are frozen in the West, and senior Taliban leaders are on U.S. wanted lists. 

(dpa/NAN)