Taliban Receive Backing from 10 Regional Powers for UN Donor Conference
GHRTV Reporter
Juliette Wangen
Middle East and Human Rights Researcher
Global Human Rights Defence
On Wednesday 20 October, Moscow hosted the Taliban for talks on the economic and humanitarian situation in Afghanistan. Russia, China, India, Pakistan, Iran, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan agreed to call for a UN Donor Conference, as soon as possible, to promote security in the region and avoid a grave humanitarian crisis. State representatives insisted on “consolidated efforts to provide urgent humanitarian and economic assistance to the Afghan people in the post-conflict reconstruction of the country.” In apparent reference to the United States and its allies, who were not present at the talks, they also stated that “the main burden […] should be borne by the forces whose military contingents have been present in this country over the past 20 years.”
On the same day, Russia called for an inclusive government in Afghanistan which reflects “the interests of not only all ethnic groups but all political forces,” in the words of Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov. The minister also stated that Russia would soon be sending humanitarian aid to Afghanistan and urged the international community to mobilise resources for the same purposes. Despite these promises, the Kremlin is refraining from a recognition of the Taliban government until the foregoing conditions are fulfilled. Yet, hopes for an inclusive government remain slim as the Taliban has failed to abide by its promises to protect minority and women’s rights. Afghanistan’s recent subjection to a series of attacks by the Islamic State in Khorasan Province further risks exacerbating the looming humanitarian crisis.
Sources and further reading:
‘Regional powers back aid for Afghanistan as Russia hosts Taliban’ Al Jazeera (20 October 2021).
Maria Tsvetkova, ‘Regional powers back aid for Afghanistan, say U.S. and allies should pay’ Reuters (20 October 2021).
‘Russia, China, Iran to work with Taliban to 'promote security'’ The New Arab (20 October 2021).
