The Taliban’s embassy in Qatar says Suhail Shaheen has met in Doha with the United Kingdom’s special envoy for Afghanistan, a senior adviser to the European Institute of Peace and the UN secretary-general’s representative for children and armed conflict.
According to the embassy, the Taliban ambassador discussed Afghanistan’s political situation, humanitarian assistance and regional issues with the officials.
In separate statements issued on Wednesday, 10 December, the Taliban embassy said Mohammad Suhail Shaheen, the Taliban ambassador in Doha, held talks with Richard Lindsay, the UK’s special envoy for Afghanistan; Patrick DeVries, a senior adviser to the European Institute of Peace; and Virginia Gamba, the UN secretary-general’s representative for children and armed conflict.
The embassy said Shaheen discussed Afghanistan’s political situation, humanitarian aid, education and bilateral relations with the UK envoy.
According to the statement, Shaheen’s meeting with DeVries focused on the Taliban relations with the European Union, peace, regional and global issues and building trust between the international community and the Taliban.
The meetings come as South Asia Magazine recently reported that two organisations in Brussels had convened a discussion on the growing challenges under Taliban rule and the urgent need for political change in Afghanistan. Representatives of Taliban opposition groups, officials from EU member states and European institutional officials took part in that meeting.
Meanwhile, several Afghan political figures including Ahmad Massoud, Abdul Rashid Dostum, Mohammad Ismail Khan, Mohammad Hanif Atmar, Mohammad Yunus Qanuni, Mohammad Mohaqiq and Atta Mohammad Noor have formed a new coalition calling for the start of intra-Afghan peace talks under UN and international supervision.
The Taliban embassy said Shaheen also met with a delegation led by Virginia Gamba. According to the statement, the discussion centred on Afghanistan’s political situation, humanitarian aid and the education of Afghan children.
