A Taliban delegation is expected in Norway from January 23 to 25 for meetings focusing on the critical humanitarian situation in Afghanistan and on human rights, Norwegian diplomacy announced on Friday January 21. In Oslo, the Taliban are expected to meet with officials from Norway and other allied countries, as well as representatives of Afghan civil society, the Norwegian Foreign Ministry said in a statement.
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“We are extremely concerned about the grave humanitarian situation in Afghanistan where millions of people are facing a massive humanitarian disaster.“said Minister Anniken Huitfeldt quoted in the press release. “In order to be able to help the civilian population in Afghanistan, it is essential that both the international community and Afghans from different facets of society engage in dialogue with the Taliban.“, she added.
23 million Afghans at risk of starvation
Emphasizing that Norway would beClaireconcerning her expectations in particular with regard to the education of girls and human rights, Anniken Huitfeldt specified that the meetings planneddo not constitute a legitimization or recognition of the Taliban“. “But we have to talk to the authorities who de facto run the country. We cannot allow the political situation to lead to an even greater humanitarian disaster“, did she say.
The humanitarian situation in Afghanistan has taken a dramatic turn since August and the return to power of the Taliban, faced with almost empty coffers after their lightning conquest of the country. International aid suddenly stopped, and the United States also froze $9.5 billion in Afghan Central Bank assets. Famine now threatens 23 million Afghans, or 55% of the population, according to the UN, which needs $4.4 billion from donor countries this year to tackle the humanitarian crisis in the country. .