ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has affirmed its attendance at an essential two-day UN-sponsored conference scheduled for February 18 to 19 in Doha. The primary objective of the conference is to develop a strategic plan for engaging with the Afghan Taliban government.
According to an official statement released by the foreign office on Friday, Ambassador Asif Durrani, Pakistan’s Special Representative on Afghanistan, will lead the Pakistani delegation at the meeting of special envoys on Afghanistan in the Qatari capital.
The conference, convened by the UN Secretary-General, seeks to facilitate discussions on strategies for international engagement with Afghanistan in a more coordinated and structured manner.
Pakistan’s involvement in the conference is part of its broader efforts to actively engage with the international community, including the United Nations, to support sustained peace and prosperity in Afghanistan.
Key agenda items include discussions on the ongoing humanitarian and human rights crises, as well as the recent recommendations put forward by UN Special Coordinator for Afghanistan, Feridun Sinirlioğlu.
Although extended an invitation, the Afghan Taliban government’s attendance at the conference remains uncertain. The Taliban government maintains its claim to legitimacy as Afghanistan’s governing authority. Moreover, Kabul has expressed reservations regarding the appointment of a UN special envoy for Afghanistan, as proposed in a recent UN resolution.
Stephane Dujarric, the secretary-general’s spokesperson, emphasized that the primary objective of the meeting is to deliberate on international engagement with the Taliban following their assumption of power.
The potential appointment of a UN envoy to coordinate enhanced international engagement with Taliban leaders in Kabul is a major agenda item, supported by the United States and its European allies, but opposed by the de facto Afghan authorities.
The conference is being held at a critical juncture, marked by shifting international dynamics. China’s recent acceptance of the Taliban-appointed ambassador has raised questions about its stance on the Kabul regime, although Beijing’s position remains ambiguous.
For Pakistan, the conference holds significance amidst its complex relationship with the Taliban government.
