UN Did Not Consult With Taliban Opponents for Doha Meeting, Claims Anti-Taliban Group

The National Resistance Council for Salvation of Afghanistan has said that essential consultations with political factions opposing the Taliban have not taken place, even as the Taliban has been invited to the Doha meeting.

The council emphasised that in accordance with the Security Council resolution, the United Nations should engage in consultations with all relevant parties before appointing a special representative.

The National Resistance Council in a statement on Tuesday wrote, "The concern of political factions at the national level and numerous meetings and conflicting movements at the international level about Afghanistan indicate the lack of national and international consensus and coherence about Afghanistan with the centrality of the United Nations."

This council had previously asked the United Nations to invite the representatives of the political factions opposed to the Taliban to the meeting in Qatar.

The statement of the council states that the UN Security Council is committed to electing a special representative with all parties involved in the Afghanistan issue.

This council has emphasised that neglecting any of the involved parties will result in the failure of current processes and the prolonged continuation of the Afghan crisis.

Earlier, the UN spokesperson announced that UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres will host a meeting on Afghanistan in Doha on 18 and 19 of February.

Recently, Taliban officials also claimed that they were invited to the meeting.

None of the parties were invited to the first UN meeting on Afghanistan in Doha hosted by Antonio Guterres.