World leaders choosing closer Taliban ties betray Afghan women

The move has been slammed by human rights groups and even UN representatives. UN Special Rapporteur on Afghanistan Richard Bennett condemned the decision to appease the Taliban at the expense of women’s rights.

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Taliban bans women from visiting popular national park in Afghanistan

The Taliban used Doha to present the world with a binary choice between women’s rights and closer ties to the group. This is a choice some states have been happy to make. Saudi Arabia used the summit to announce it would reopen its embassy at the earliest opportunity. China’s special envoy for Afghanistan Yue Xiaoyong said Beijing now realises the international community should engage with the Taliban to ensure “sustainable peace and reconstruction”.

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The endless wait for freedom: Afghans stuck in Pakistan hope for relocation to Western countries

This attack on Afghanistan’s sovereignty undermined the Taliban at home. It also comes as resistance to the Taliban grows within Afghanistan, with the UN reporting a surge in attacks last month by anti-Taliban armed groups.

As delegates leave Doha, the world will come to regret offering so much to a regime so desperate for international recognition. It was the perfect opportunity to stand up to the Taliban and stand firm on issues such as terrorism and women’s rights. Instead, the world blinked. The Taliban is now stronger than ever.

Chris Fitzgerald is a freelance journalist and project coordinator for the Platform for Peace and Humanity’s Central Asia Programme