The United Nations envoy for Afghanistan, Roza Otunbayeva, said on Friday Afghans broadly agree that it is important for the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan (IEA) to attend the upcoming Doha format meeting, but that there should also be no recognition of IEA until the issues of women’s rights, girls’ education, and an acceptable constitution were broadly addressed.

Addressing the Security Council in New York, Otunbayeva said that Afghans expect that the restrictions on women’s rights will be forcefully addressed in the upcoming meeting, but noted that expectations cannot realistically be met in a single meeting.

“We are trying to establish a process and preserve an important mechanism of consultation. We must be realistic about how much each meeting in this process can deliver, especially at this early stage where confidence and trust are insufficient,” she said.

The envoy said that engagement has led to some flexibility by IEA. “It has at the very least led to greater understanding and trust-building on all sides,” she said.

US deputy envoy Robert Wood said that the international community must insist on reversing IEA restrictions on women and girls.

“We must ensure that women and civil society participants have a voice in Doha at the UN-hosted meeting of Special Envoys coming up in a few weeks. Their concerns must be highlighted in all deliberations on Afghanistan’s future,” he said.

The envoy noted that the UN has an important role to play in Afghanistan’s re-integration into the international system.

UK Political Counsellor Fergus Eckersley also called for the IEA to reverse all policies restricting human rights and fundamental freedoms in Afghanistan.

Noting that the 2024 Afghanistan Humanitarian Needs and Response Plan is only 20 percent funded, he urged the international community to increase their support. He said that the UK is on track to deliver over $190 million in aid this year.

The Islamic Emirate has repeatedly emphasized that it is committed to ensuring the Shariah rights of women and girls, and that countries should not interfere in this matter.

The third Doha meeting on Afghanistan is scheduled to be held on June 30. The Islamic Emirate, which did not attend the previous meetings, has announced that it will participate in the upcoming meeting.

Zakir Jalali, Director of the Third Political Division of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Afghanistan, said on Friday that the discussions of the third Doha meeting on Afghanistan will focus on private sector, financial, banking, counter-narcotics and alternative livelihood issues.

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