Sources in Kandahar told Afghanistan International that the Taliban leader’s office rejected a request by representatives of the World Bank, Asian Development Bank and other global organisations to meet Hibatullah Akhundzada.
According to the sources, the delegation requested a meeting with Akhundzada during a visit to Kandahar on Monday.
Over the past five years, the Taliban leader has not met any foreign official apart from the prime minister of Qatar.
The sources said the foreign delegation included officials from the World Bank, the Asian Development Bank, the UN Food and Agriculture Organisation and the International Finance Corporation.
The delegation raised the request during a meeting with Mullah Shirin, the Taliban governor of Kandahar, but it was not accepted.
Two separate sources told Afghanistan International that before the request was even conveyed to the Taliban leader, members of the delegation were told during the same meeting that such a meeting could not be arranged.
The delegation included Wagma Mohmand, head of the International Finance Corporation’s Kabul office, as well as other women.
According to one source, after receiving the response, the international delegation dropped the request and continued with the rest of its programme.
This is not the first time foreign delegations visiting Kandahar have sought a meeting with the Taliban leader.
Hibatullah Akhundzada is among the most internationally isolated leaders. He has made no foreign trips over the past five years.
Since August 2021, representatives of various countries, UN officials and delegations from international organisations have sought meetings with the Taliban leader, but those efforts have been unsuccessful.
Rather than meeting foreign representatives directly, the Taliban leader maintains communications through his office and a limited number of channels.
One source said there are concerns within the Taliban leadership that direct meetings with foreign officials could affect the leader’s security, the confidentiality of decision-making and his policy of maintaining a limited public presence. For that reason, his close advisers prevent such meetings from taking place.
Political analysts say that although the day-to-day administration of the Taliban government is handled by ministers and other officials, major political and strategic decisions are still made in Hibatullah Akhundzada’s office.
As a result, direct access to him could be influential for representatives of international organisations and foreign governments.
Over the past five years, the international community has been unable to influence Hibatullah Akhundzada’s decisions on policies it opposes, including restrictions on women and girls’ education and employment.
