Norway and Taliban meet over humanitarian issues

Today, Taliban officials will conclude three days of talks in Norway, centered on addressing the spiraling humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan. 

In addition to delegates of Western nations, Taliban officials also met with representatives of Afghan civilian groups, including women’s and civil rights activists. Despite the absence of any formal recognition of authority, the Taliban leadership hopes the talks are a step in the right direction. Many countries restricted aid flow to avoid enriching the Taliban, but rampant poverty is forcing reconsideration. 

In the short term, expect the Taliban to continue pleading for sanctions to be lifted that currently freeze $10 billion in overseas assets. In return, the West will likely demand stipulations that strengthen women’s rights as well as minority representation in government. Western nations will likely increasingly prioritize aid distribution through non-governmental channels. For example, the EU announced that it would put over $300 million towards development projects streamlined through UN agencies to improve health and education sectors and re-establish an embassy in Kabul to facilitate relief. For the foreseeable future, developed nations will remain caught between needing to interact with the new government for humanitarian relief but without formally recognizing it or sending funds directly into its coffers. 

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