US: “Taliban Not Only Afghans Who Have Stake in Future of Afghanistan”

The US Department of State’s spokesman, Mathew Miller said that he is “not surprised” that the Islamic Emirate did not participate at the second Doha meeting.

Speaking at a press briefing, Miller said the “Taliban are not the only Afghans who have a stake in the future of Afghanistan.”

“I can’t say I’m incredibly surprised that the Taliban declined the invitation to participate in a meeting with a broad representation from the international community. But I will say, as you’ve heard us say before, that the Taliban are not the only Afghans who have a stake in the future of Afghanistan. We will continue to support giving all Afghans, including, of course, women and girls, a voice in shaping their country’s future,” Miller said.

The US Department of State’s spokesman said that what the US was trying to achieve by attending the Doha meeting was to “make clear that Afghanistan should not be a hotbed for terrorist activities that impact other countries; two, a vision for Afghanistan with inclusive institutions in which its diverse groups all feel represented in a state that is truly inclusive; and number three, a concern about the respect of human rights, and in particular the rights of women and girls.”

In response to a question about the refusal of Chinese, Russian, and Iranian envoys to meet with the Afghan civil society, Miller said “we always find engagement with civil society to be productive. We try to take actions through our diplomacy to empower civil society, and we would certainly encourage every country in the world to pursue that path.”

However, the Islamic Emirate called the remarks of the US Department spokesman “prejudiced.”

“We know America’s intentions. The main reason is not the one they mentioned; they are actually the big violators of human rights in the world. The Islamic Emirate is committed to the rights given to individuals by Islamic Sharia. America’s problem is America’s failure,” said the Islamic Emirate’s spokesman, Zabihullah Mujahid.

“Afghanistan, with its balanced, neutral and positive policy, wants to have a positive interaction with all parties,” said Mohammad Mateen Mohammadkhail, a political analyst.

The second Doha meeting on Afghanistan was held on the 18 and 19 of February without the presence of the Islamic Emirate.