Reportedly the three day Norwegian visit of the Taliban designation of Afghan civil society representatives led by acting foreign minister Amir Khan Muttaqi began Sunday. According to the report, the closed door meetings will take place in a hotel in the snow capped mountains overlooking Oslo.
Reportedly, a voice message tweeted by the minister for culture and education in Afghanistan relayed a message from Muttaqi thanking Norway, a country he said he hoped would become a gateway for a new relationship with Europe.
According to the report, scheduled meetings on the first day were with women’s rights activists and human rights defenders from Afghanistan and the Afghan diaspora.
Reportedly, a u.s. delegation is attending led by Tom West, special representative for Afghanistan, wishing to discuss the formation of a representative political system, responses to urgent humanitarian and economic crises, security and counter terrorism concerns and human rights, especially education for girls and women.
According to the report, the Scandinavian country has in the past been involved in peace efforts in a number of countries including Syria, south Sudan and Venezuela.
Reportedly, the Norwegian foreign minister stated, ‘Norway continues to engage in dialogue with the taliban to promote human rights, women’s participation in society and to strengthen humanitarian and economic efforts in Afghanistan, in support of the Afghan people’.