The European Union's Special Envoy for Afghanistan, Tomas Niklasson, said that the main focus of the Doha meeting will be to discuss the independent assessment of the UN's Special Coordinator on Afghanistan, Feridun H. Sinirlioğlu.

Speaking at a press conference in Kabul, Niklasson added that the issue of human rights and commitments made by the current Afghan government will also be discussed in this meeting.

“The Doha meeting will take place over two days, on the eighteenth and nineteenth of February, and the agenda is defined and set by the convener of the meeting, the UN. I think the main -- for what we understand and the details we have seen so far -- a main focus will really be to discuss the report I mentioned, the independent assessment by Feridun H. Sinirlioğlu, and that report actually proposes the key areas where work would be needed for a more normalized relationship between Afghanistan and the international community and it mentions two areas where work is needed: one is a commitment and delivery, fulfillment, upholding by the interim government of Afghanistan by the de facto authorities,” he said.

The European Union's Special Envoy for Afghanistan noted that Afghanistan is the only country in the world where girls and women are actively prevented from going to secondary school or universities.

“Afghanistan is the only country in the world where girls and women are actively prevented from going to secondary school or universities. There are many countries as we know in the world where girls and women can’t do it for lack of opportunity, for lack of financial resources, because there are not sufficient schools, but this is something that so many people also outside Afghanistan think about,” he said.

Tomas Niklasson further said that the EU has provided more than €600 million in humanitarian assistance and more than €600 million disbursed or foreseen by the EU as basic needs and livelihood support to Afghanistan.

“Finally, my visit offered an opportunity to discuss with highly committed UN agencies, humanitarian partners and NGOs their experience in delivering assistance to the people of Afghanistan with – more than €600 million humanitarian assistance and more than €600 million disbursed or foreseen by the EU as basic needs and livelihood support since August 2021 until the end of 2024 – and their reflections and recommendations,” he said.

During the press conference Niklasson also said that “the main focus of my visit this time was to compare notes with the de facto authorities, other Afghans and representatives of the diplomatic community to help us set realistic expectations and prepare better for a constructive Doha meeting.”