The Islamic Emirate delegation, led by acting Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi, met with Afghan civil society members on Sunday in Oslo. 

The US special envoy for Afghanistan Thomas West tweeted from Oslo, saying he welcomed Norway's taking the initiative to hold a meeting between the Islamic Emirate delegation and the Afghan civil society leaders.  

“Welcome our hosts' initiative to bring Afghan civil society and Taliban together for dialogue. Civil society leaders are the backbone of healthy and prosperous economies and societies, he said. “As we seek to address humanitarian crisis together with allies, partners, and relief organization, we will continue clear-eyed diplomacy with the Taliban regarding our concerns and our abiding interest in a stable, rights-respecting and inclusive Afghanistan.” 

The Islamic Emirate’s spokesman Zabiullah Mujahid said that the participants of the summit recognized that understanding and joint cooperation are the only solutions to Afghan problems.  

“The participants of the Oslo summit reaffirmed that Afghanistan is the common home of all Afghans, and emphasized that all Afghans need to work together for better political, economic and security outcomes in the country,” he said.  

Following this, the delegation will first meet with the US envoys, a spokesman for the Islamic Emirate said, adding that the talks would focus on the release of the frozen assets, the removal of its members' names from the blacklist, and the extension of relations between Kabul and Washington.  

The Islamic Emirate delegates landed in Norway’s capital Oslo on Saturday night.  

“In the first meeting, with the Americans, the release of the Afghan assets, the removal of the blacklist, and also the resumption and extension of bilateral ties will be discussed,” said Inamullah Samangani, deputy spokesman for the Islamic Emirate.  

The visit is the first of the Islamic Emirate delegation to Europe.  

The meeting will be held from January 23 to 25, according to a statement of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Norway. 

Afghan missions abroad which are run by diplomats of the former government in a joint statement praised Norway for convening the talks on Afghanistan but called for further pressure by the international community for the formation of an inclusive government as well as to ensure human rights in the country.   

“The force which came to power after the changes is not inclusive and it doesn’t reflect the wishes and intentions of the people,” said Zarifa Yaqobi, a member of the Mawj and Tahwal movement.  

However, the official invitation of the Islamic Emirate’s delegation to Norway faced diverse reactions.  

A movement named “Afghanistan Women's Government in Exile” in a statement accused the Islamic Emirate of violating human rights and criticized the Norwegian government for inviting the Kabul delegation.  

Some Afghans living in Europe staged protests in Oslo over the talks as well in front the Norwegian embassy in London.