On June 29, the Taliban declared that women’s rights are an internal matter for Afghanistan to handle. This statement precedes U.N.-led talks where the exclusion of Afghan women has caused significant controversy.

Since taking control in 2021, the Taliban have imposed strict restrictions on women, which the U.N. has described as “gender apartheid.” The Taliban will send a delegation to the third round of talks in Qatar starting June 30. Civil society representatives, including women’s rights groups, will meet international envoys and U.N. officials on July 2, following the official discussions.

Rights groups have criticized the exclusion of Afghan women from the main meetings and the lack of focus on human rights. Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid acknowledged the issues but emphasized they are internal matters. Mujahid, who will lead the delegation, said, “We are working to find solutions within Afghanistan to prevent conflict.”

Mujahid insisted that the Taliban government represents all of Afghanistan and should be the sole Afghan representatives at the talks. He argued that having multiple Afghan representatives would signal disunity.

The U.N. initiated these talks in May 2023 to improve international coordination with the Taliban. Since the Taliban overthrew a Western-backed government, no country has officially recognized them. The international community is divided on how to engage with the Taliban, particularly on women’s rights.

The Taliban were not invited to the first talks in Doha last year and boycotted the second round, demanding exclusive representation. This demand has been met for the third round of talks.

Mujahid reiterated the Taliban’s desire for positive international relations but described the Doha meeting as primarily for exchanging views with Western countries. The agenda will focus on combating drugs and addressing economic issues, which are crucial for the country. Mujahid noted, “We need to remove obstacles to economic development. If the economy improves, other issues can be resolved.”

The international community continues to struggle with how to handle the Taliban, with women’s rights remaining a major concern.

Re-reported from the article originally published in THE HINDU.