After the fourth meeting of the EU and Central Asia Special Representatives and Special Envoys for Afghanistan, the participants stressed on the formation of an inclusive government in Afghanistan and reversal of ban on women and girls.

The meeting, held on May 25-26 in Ashgabat, in a joint statement said that they discussed the economic situation in Afghanistan and how to continue cooperation in assisting the people of Afghanistan.

Special Representatives and Special Envoys for Afghanistan of the European Union, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyz Republic, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan and the EU Special Representative for Central Asia were the participants.

The joint statement also focused on urging the Taliban to lift all bans on Afghan girls and women restricting their rights to education, work and participation in public life. It said that the bans – beyond being serious human rights violations – are having detrimental effects on the ability of the international community to deliver humanitarian aid to the Afghan people, and need to be lifted for the Afghan economy to prosper, and ultimately for Afghanistan to achieve long-term stability and peace.

The statement said that terrorism, violent extremism, drug trafficking and other illicit cross border activities, will negatively impact the region. The participants called on the Taliban to prevent the Afghan territory from being used as a safe haven for hosting, planning, training, financing or exporting terrorism and violent extremism to other countries.

The participants also reaffirmed their strong commitment to the people of Afghanistan and underlined the importance of the establishment of an inclusive and representative government and of upholding civil, political, social economic and cultural rights of all Afghans.

The statement also expressed grave concerns regarding the increasing erosion of human rights and fundamental freedoms and the dire economic and humanitarian situation.