INSUBCONTINENT EXCLUSIVE:
The United States abruptly cancelled meetings with the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan (IEA), in Doha that were set to address key economic
issues, officials said on Friday, after Afghanistan&s IEA rulers reversed a decision to allow all girls to return to high school classes,
Reuters reported.The cancellation of talks was the first concrete sign that recent IEA moves on human rights and inclusivity could directly
impact the international community&s willingness to help the group, some of whose leaders are under United States sanctions.Their decision
was a deeply disappointing and inexplicable reversal of commitments to the Afghan people, first and foremost, and also to the international
community,& a United States State Department spokesperson told Reuters.We have cancelled some of our engagements, including planned
meetings in Doha, and made clear that we see this decision as a potential turning point in our engagement.Three sources familiar with the
matter told Reuters that the series of meeting between United States and IEA administration officials were set to take place on the
sidelines of a conference in Qatar&s capital on Saturday and Sunday.Some of the meetings were to have included United Nations and World Bank
representatives, the sources added.An Afghan foreign ministry spokesman confirmed that an IEA delegation, including the acting foreign
minister, had been expecting to go to Doha, Reuters reported.The talks were designed to cover issues including the independence of the
Afghan central bank and the printing of Afghani currency bank notes.Also up for discussion were a humanitarian exchange facility to free up
cash and hundreds of millions of dollars of funding currently held in a World Bank Trust Fund that is earmarked for Afghanistan&s education
sector, according to the three sources.They declined to be named because they were not authorised to speak with the media.The Qatari jet
that was meant to collect Muttaqi&s delegation in Kabul has not turned up,& said a diplomatic source, referring to Acting Foreign Minister
Amir Khan Muttaqi.The Qatari government&s communications office did not immediately respond to a request for comment.The move shows the
headwinds the Islamic Emirate (IE) administration faces in accessing foreign aid and freeing up the banking sector
Hard currency shortages have fuelled inflation and worsened the economic crisis.The IEA have also been unable to access billions of dollars
in foreign reserves held overseas as governments including the United States refuse to fully recognise them.In addition to the crippled
financial system, the sharp drop in development funding that once amounted to billions of dollars and helped the Afghan government to
function has exacerbated food shortages and poverty.Roughly 23 million people are experiencing acute hunger and 95% of the population are
not eating enough food, according to the United Nations.Washington and its allies have insisted that the IEA, who banned girls from school
and most women from work the last time they ruled, improve their human rights record.The Islamic Emirate (IE) says it will honour everyone&s
rights within its interpretation of Islamic law and has vowed to investigate specific allegations of abuse.The IEA on Wednesday backtracked
on their previous commitment to open high schools to girls, saying that they would remain closed until a plan was drawn up for them to
reopen.The U-turn shocked many, leaving students in tears and sparking small protests by girls in Kabul
It also drew condemnation from humanitarian agencies and foreign governments.They are definitely shooting themselves in the foot,& said
Graeme Smith, a senior consultant at International Crisis Group, of the decision on girls& education.A major donor summit for humanitarian
aid is set to take place this month, co-hosted by Britain, in an effort to help raise $4.4 billion in funding the United Nations says it
needs to meet urgent needs in the country.Diplomats and aid groups fear that the war in Ukraine, combined with the IEA&s decision on girls&
schooling, will make it harder to raise the money.The decision is understandable,& John Sifton of Human Rights Watch said of the United
&The United States and other donors need to communicate to the Taliban that their actions are unacceptable.At the same time, the
cancellation of this important meeting is tragic … The Afghan economy has collapsed, and millions are facing acute malnutrition
People are dying of starvation every day.The post US cancels talks with IEA over U-turn on girls& education first appeared on Ariana News.
