A delegation of the Islamic Emirate led by acting Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi flew to Norway’s capital Oslo to attend the talks to held there from January 23-25.
Muttaqi will meet with Norwegian officials, representatives of the European Union, US and Arabic countries as well as Afghan politicians.
“Senior IEA delegation led by the FM H.E Mawlawi Amir Khan Muttaqi left for Norway in a special flight of the said country where talks will be held with representatives of various countries & a number of Afghans about humanitarian aid, political, educational & economic issues,” said Abdul Qahar Balkhi, a spokesman for the Foreign Ministry.
“We will hold talks with Norwegian officials, European Union, US also with the European and Arabic countries,” Muttaqi said.
Two top Norwegian authorities said that the invitation of the Islamic Emirate delegation to Oslo does not mean that Norway recognizes the Islamic Emirate government.
- meetings do not represent a legitimization or recognition of the Taliban. But we must talk to the de facto authorities in the country. We cannot allow the political situation to lead to an even worse humanitarian disaster,’ Minister of Foreign Affairs Anniken Huitfeldt said as quoted in a statement issued by the country’s foreign ministry.
- Norwegian Foreign Ministry emphasized that the meeting would also focus on girl’s access to education and human rights,” the statement added.
“I am very happy that we are talking to those who actually have power in Afghanistan now. Not because we recognize the Taliban as a legitimate government in any way, but because the Afghan people deserve better than what they are experiencing now,” Eirik Kristoffersen, chief of Armed Forces of Norway told NTB.
The Norwegian ambassador to the UN, Mona Juul, said that there is a need for talks with the current Afghan “rulers” due to the deep humanitarian disaster in the country.
“We have to make sure that we are able as an international community to get necessary humanitarian assistance into Afghanistan for the millions of people facing a very very grave humanitarian situation,” she said.
Political analysts believe that the Islamic Emirate delegation will negotiate over the demands of foreign countries from the current Afghan government.
“This will be the first time that the Taliban--as a government--will face the world to talk over the demands which are also the wishes of the majority of Afghans,” said Ismail Gharanai, a political analyst.
Muttaqi is making his visit to Norway days after the European Union announced that it has re-established a minimal number of staff in Kabul.
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