Kabul, Afghanistan - June 29, 2024

Storyline:
A delegation from the Taliban-led Afghan government is currently in Doha to attend the third round of UN-convened talks on Afghanistan scheduled for Sunday to Monday, hoping to take it as an opportunity to foster understanding between their government and the wider international community.

Key issues on the meeting's agenda include frozen Afghan assets and the Taliban's counter-narcotics policies.

Zabihullah Mujahid, chief spokesperson for the caretaker government, led a six-member delegation to the meeting. Before heading to Doha, he briefed the media on Saturday about his government's approach toward the gathering.

Answering a question from China Global Television Network (CGTN), Mujahid outlined the state of his country's ties with the rest of the world, including some Western countries.

A group of Afghan activists from diverse backgrounds, mostly based in the country, wrote an open letter on Sunday to the Secretary-General of the United Nations, Special Envoys for Afghanistan, and the Interim Taliban Administration.

The letter addresses key concerns regarding Afghanistan's current socio-economic and political landscape under the Taliban-led government. It highlights severe economic challenges, exacerbated by international actions such as funding cuts and banking restrictions, alongside internal Taliban policies hindering the economic participation of women and educational opportunities for girls.

The activists urge participants of the third Doha meeting to increase aid to the Afghan people, pave the way for unfreezing the Afghanistan Central Bank's assets, and assist Afghan businesses and women.

Kabul residents urge both the Taliban and international community to pay attention to the needs of the Afghan people and avoid confusing humanitarian with political issues.

Shotlist:
Kabul, Afghanistan - June 29, 2024:
1. Various of Zabihullah Mujahid, chief spokesman of Taliban-led Afghan caretaker government, at press conference;
2. Attendees;
3. SOUNDBITE (Pashto) Zabihullah Mujahid, spokesman, Afghan caretaker government:
"We don't have problems with all of the world, but we want to reach a solution and maintain mutual understanding with some countries that have been pursuing obsessive policies toward Afghanistan. Afghanistan has faced financial challenges, and its business affairs have been impacted by the sanctions that have been imposed. This needs to be addressed.";
Kabul, Afghanistan - Recent
4. Various of cityscape;
5. SOUNDBITE (English) Muhammad Sulaiman Bin Shah, CEO, Catalysts Afghanistan:
"I think Afghanistan really deserves right now a chance to be reconnected to the world, to be reintegrated into the international community's framework and to be able to do business with the rest of the world just like any other country. And I think it's an absolute right of the Afghan people, regardless of any other political agendas or issues that we have in Afghanistan.";
6. Various of pedestrians;
7. SOUNDBITE (Dari) Mushtaba Atayi, Kabul resident:
"As we all know, the political and economic situation of Afghanistan is not leading to progress due to Afghanistan's frozen assets. I urge the international community to find a solution at this meeting, and unfreeze Afghan money.";
8. Pedestrians;
9. Banknotes going through counting machine;
10. SOUNDBITE (Pashto) Asimullah Hamdard, Kabul resident:
"We want the Taliban-led government to reopen schools and universities for sisters, based on Islamic law, and provide the educational environment for them. That would be a very good step.";
11. Traffic;
12. Flag of Taliban.

[Restriction - No access Chinese mainland]