Taliban’s Head Of Delegation To Doha Dodges Questions On Legitimacy & Women's Rights

Zabihullah Mujahid, the head of the Taliban delegation at the Doha meeting, evaded questions from Maryam Rahmati, a reporter for Afghanistan International, about the group's lack of domestic legitimacy. Mujahid also did not respond to questions about women's rights.

When confronted by reporters in the lobby of the hotel where the Doha meeting will be held, Mujahid chose to leave the hotel corridor instead of engaging with the journalists.

However, Suhail Shaheen, a member of the Taliban delegation accompanying Mujahid, responded to one of the questions by claiming that the group does have domestic legitimacy. Shaheen said, "If we didn't have domestic legitimacy, we wouldn't have been able to end the occupation."

Critics of the Taliban argue that the group took over power in Afghanistan through a "foreign conspiracy" and "intimidation via suicide attacks and bombings," and thus lacks domestic legitimacy. According to Taliban opponents, domestic legitimacy can only be achieved through a nationwide election, but the Taliban fears "the people's votes."