Oslo: The first Taliban delegation to visit Europe since returning to power in Afghanistan began talks with members of Afghan civil society in Oslo on Sunday to focus on human rights, ahead of much-anticipated meetings with Western officials.
The delegation, led by External Affairs Minister Aamir Khan Muttaki, is to dedicate the first day of its three-day visit to interacting with women activists and journalists, among others. The discussions, which are being facilitated by Norway and focusing on human rights and the humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan, are taking place behind closed doors at the Soria Morea Hotel on the outskirts of Oslo.
The humanitarian situation has worsened since August, when the Taliban returned to power after 20 years in power. International aid came to an abrupt halt after their acquisition, worsening the plight of millions who were already starving after several severe droughts.
Radical Islamists were ousted by a US-led coalition in 2001, but took power again amid a hasty withdrawal by international forces. No country has yet recognized the Taliban government, and Norway's Foreign Minister Aniken Huitfeld stressed that the talks "will not represent the legitimacy or recognition of the Taliban".
"But we must speak to the real authorities in the country. We cannot allow the political situation to lead to a humanitarian disaster even worse," Huitfeld said on Friday. A handful of protesters protested outside Norway's foreign ministry on Saturday. On Monday, the Taliban will hold meetings with representatives from the United States, France, Britain, Germany, Italy and the European Union, while Tuesday will be devoted to bilateral talks with Norwegian officials.
In an interview with AFP on Saturday, Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid said hardline Islamists hope the talks will help "change the atmosphere of war to a peaceful one".
Joining the Kabul delegation is Anas Haqqani, the leader of the Haqqani Network, the most feared and violent faction of the Taliban movement, which is responsible for some of the most devastating attacks in Afghanistan.
A senior official without any formal government title, he was jailed for several years at the United States' Bagram detention center outside the capital, Kabul, before being released in a prisoner swap in 2019.
Hunger now threatens 23 million Afghans, or 55 percent of the population, according to the United Nations, which says $4.4 billion is needed from donor countries this year to address the humanitarian crisis.
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres reiterated Friday: "It would be a mistake to punish the people of Afghanistan collectively just because the real authorities are not behaving properly."