Gathered in Qatar, representatives of the European Union and the United States diverge on the nature of the relationship with the new Afghan regime.
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The future of Afghanistan continues to be written, in part, in Doha, Qatar. A Taliban government delegation started on Saturday 27 November, a series of meetings with representatives of Western countries to try to open a new chapter of Afghanistan’s history of relations with the world. In the secrecy of these interviews organized with the United States and Europe, it is a war of influence that has committed between each of the parties. For if all the protagonists agree on the need to establish viable communication channels, the goals prosecuted differ by country. Divisions that could do the Taliban game.
The discussions started with the Special Envoy of the European Union (EU) for Afghanistan, Tomas Niklasson, who spoke for two days with the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Amir Khan Muttaqi. The EU welcomed the Taliban commitment to respect their promise of “amnesty” to all those who served the old regime, and to let the country leave those who wished. But Brussels urged them to put in place an “inclusive government”, open to other political sensitivities, and to encourage democracy and equal access of girls to schooling.
Only these conditions, Niklasson said, that the EU could unlock additional funding “to the direct profit of the Afghan people” to help a country plunged into one of the worst crises humanitarian people in his history. Ursula von der Leyen, president of the European Commission, said Sunday that “the dialogue does not imply the recognition of the Taliban government”. Nevertheless, these statements do not mean that there is unanimity among the Member States.
The Franco-German disagreement
The French, for the moment, oppose all forms of return to Kabul, other than related to humanitarian aid, because it would come back, they say, to recognize the Taliban regime. Gold Brussels has already sent a business representative on site. The Germans and the Netherlands, faithful to their doctrine that one does not negotiate with a regime, but with a country, also grow to the recovery of diplomatic relations with the Taliban. Berlin even intends to use 400 million euros allocated, early 2021, to development projects in Afghanistan.
In addition, the EU had to reverse on a project promoted by supporters of cooperation beyond the only humanitarian aid. The Germans, in particular, supported the idea of paying, unconditionally, the wages of Afghan teachers so that all schools can reopen in the country. France was against, but it is mostly the United States – by the voice of Tom West, American emissary for Afghanistan, which started on Monday in Doha, its own talks with the Taliban – who blocked this initiative. They consider that it would be able to directly finance the Taliban state, a regime having taken power by force.
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