The United Nations-led talks on how to handle Afghanistan’s rulers and urge them to ease the ban on women working and girls going to school will begin in Qatar on Monday, but the Taliban will not be present. Representatives from about 25 countries and groups, including the United States, China, Russia, major European aid donors, and critical neighbours such as Pakistan, have been called to the two-day talks by UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres.
The question of recognition of the Taliban administration has been a concern, but the United Nations and the United States have insisted that credit is not on the agenda. The Taliban government has not been invited. A small group of Afghan women staged a weekend protest march in Kabul, opposing any moves to recognize the rulers who returned to power in August 2021.
A coalition of Afghan women’s groups released an open letter to the Doha meeting expressing their outrage that any country would consider formal ties with the Taliban government, which has claimed that it’s handling of women’s rights is “an internal social issue.”
Last month, UN Deputy Secretary-General Amina Mohammed’s comments that the Doha meeting could lead to “baby steps” towards a “principled recognition” of the Taliban government fueled fears of rights groups. However, the UN clarified that the comments were misinterpreted, and no country has established formal ties with the Taliban administration. At the same time, the UN General Assembly can only decide on UN membership.
According to Guterres’ office, before he arrives in Doha, the meeting’s objective is to achieve a common understanding within the international community on how to engage with the Taliban on women’s and girls’ rights, inclusive governance, countering terrorism and drug trafficking.
Dilemma
The United Nations faces a dilemma in handling the Taliban-led government in Afghanistan. The Taliban have imposed strict gender-based restrictions, leading the UN to label it “gender-based apartheid”. Women have been barred from most education, work, and participation in UN agencies and NGOs. The UN Security Council powers have united to condemn these curbs and urge countries to seek an urgent reversal of these policies. However, the international community is in a quandary in recognizing the Taliban government, as it wants to reclaim billions of dollars of desperately needed funds seized abroad after taking power. UN Deputy Secretary-General Amina Mohammed said it is “clear” that the Taliban authorities want recognition. Still, several diplomats from countries involved in the Doha talks said formal UN ties would not be possible until there is a change in women’s rights. During the Doha meeting, the UN is scheduled to give an update on its critical relief operation in Afghanistan, which faces an “appalling choice” of maintaining its massive function in the country of 38 million. The review is expected to be completed on Friday.
Qatar is making significant investments to overcome the post-World Cup downturn.
Following the departure of hundreds of thousands of football fans who filled hotels and stadiums during the World Cup, Qatar is trying to boost its economy by hosting more international events. As a result of the tournament, luxury hotels built for the occasion had to let go of hundreds of employees, and a shopping mall on the outskirts of Doha recently saw more than 1,000 people lining up outside for 100 job interviews. Despite the booming influx of 1.4 million visitors during the World Cup, Qatar is now feeling the loss of the large crowds, and some businesses need help to stay afloat. Nevertheless, Qatar’s economy is still strong, with a trade surplus of almost $100 billion last year. Growth is expected to reach 3.4% this year, one of the highest in the Middle East, supported by the country’s natural gas resources. According to official figures, the population has also increased by almost 100,000 since the World Cup final, bringing the total to over three million.
Qatar is focusing on investing in tourism and hosting major events to boost its economy after the World Cup. Despite hotel occupancy being traditionally low in the months following the tournament, the country’s tourism agency and Qatar Airways predict that Qatar will welcome more than five million visitors this year, twice the number in pre-pandemic 2019. The government is preparing for a six-month horticultural expo in October and the second Qatar Formula One grand prix on Oct 8. Qatar was also recently announced as the host of the 24-nation basketball World Cup in 2027, despite having no tradition in the sport. Furthermore, Qatar’s Years of Culture series, which pairs the country with other nations, has gained significant interest, with Culture Minister Sheikh Abdulrahman bin Hamad bin Jassim bin Hamad Al Thani stating that governments are now queuing to participate. The country’s new prime minister, Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al-Thani, is expected to announce new economic initiatives to compete with Saudi Arabia, which has undergone many reforms.
How Much Qatar Earn In FiFA 2022
Qatar earned extra income from commercial deals with sponsors such as Qatar Energy, QNB, and Ooredoo for this year’s World Cup. FIFA also signed new sponsor deals with crypto.com and Algorand. Broadcast deals with Fox and BeIN Sports were signed in 2011 during Sepp Blatter’s presidency. FIFA pays for organizing committees, prize money, travel, team accommodation and supports staff and a legacy fund for developing the sport in the host country. The winners of the Qatar World Cup will receive $44m out of a total prize pool of $440m. FIFA’s revenues for the next four years are expected to approach $10bn due to a new financial strategy for women’s football and the expanded 2026 World Cup with 48 teams. Only Coca-Cola, Adidas, and Wanda have extended their deals for the 2026 World Cup. Separate sponsor deals for the 2023 Women’s World Cup in Australia and New Zealand are being signed.
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