The fourth Doha meeting is approaching amid growing concerns about its confidential nature and the exclusion of human rights, especially women's rights.

Heather Barr, associate director of the Women’s Rights Division at Human Rights Watch, told TOLOnews that the upcoming Doha meeting will be more confidential than the previous three rounds.

According to her, the Islamic Emirate has presented three key demands to the international community: recognition of the caretaker government, lifting of sanctions, and release of Afghanistan’s assets.

She said these are considered irreversible, while the international community’s conditions; respect for human rights, combating drugs, and forming an inclusive government are seen as reversible.

 “The second major issue is the design of this process, which heavily considers the Taliban's demands. The main concern is that the Taliban’s priorities lifting sanctions, unfreezing assets, and diplomatic recognition are specific and irreversible, while the international community’s demands human rights, counterterrorism, and inclusive governance are much broader and very much reversible. This could lead the Taliban closer to their goals without the other side gaining any clear benefits,” said Heather Barr.

Political analyst Fazel Rahman Oria said: “In the fourth Doha meeting, Afghanistan and its government must have a prominent presence and active role. The more actively the Afghan government participates, the more Afghanistan’s legitimate interests will be secured and protected.”

Heather Barr also expressed concern about the absence of women representatives in the past three Doha meetings and the lack of focus on human rights, especially women’s rights, in this process.

She added: “This process resembles a menu of options where both sides can pick whatever they prefer from six options.”

Women's rights activist Tafsir Siahposh said: “They must invite women who have been excluded and allow them to participate in meetings concerning their fate wherever those meetings may be, the Islamic Emirate must allow their presence.”

Although the exact date of the fourth Doha meeting has not yet been determined, on October 30, 2024, the permanent representative of Qatar to the UN met with Rosemary DiCarlo, UN Under-Secretary-General for Political and Peacebuilding Affairs, to discuss organizing the meeting.