Kabul

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The Taliban administration in Afghanistan on Saturday (June 29) said that the demands over women's rights were "Afghanistan's issues" to solve, ahead of United Nations-led engagement talks where the exclusion of Afghan women has sparked an outcry. The agenda at the talks, which begin in Qatar on Sunday, would include combating narcotics and economic issues in Afghanistan. 

The Taliban would be sending their first delegation to the third round of talks. Rights groups have condemned the exclusion of Afghan women from the main meetings and the lack of human rights issues on the agenda. 

'Authorities acknowledge issues about Afghan women'

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Addressing a press conference, Taliban spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid said that authorities acknowledged issues about women. However, these "issues are Afghanistan's issues," said Mujahid who will lead the delegation for Sunday's talks. 

Also read | Afghan women jailed for 'bad hijab' say they faced sexual assault by Taliban

"We are working to find a logical path toward solutions inside Afghanistan so that, God forbid, our country doesn't again fall into conflict and discord," he added. "If Afghans participate through several channels, it means we are still scattered, our nation is still not unified," Mujahid further said.

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'Taliban seek positive relations with all countries'

The UN-led engagement talks were launched in May last year to increase international coordination on engagement with the Taliban, who came to power in Afghanistan in 2021, a report by the news agency AFP said. 

Taliban authorities were not invited to the first talks in Doha last year and refused to attend the second conference, demanding that they be the sole Afghan representatives to the exclusion of invited civil society groups.

Also watch | Taliban to attend UN-led meeting in Qatar on Afghanistan

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That condition was met for the third round of talks.

During Saturday's press conference, Mujahid reiterated that his administration sought positive relations with all countries. But he pointed out that no major discussions would take place in Doha on Sunday and the meeting was an opportunity to exchange views, particularly with the West. 

(With inputs from agencies)