UN Secretary-General Condemns Taliban's Unacceptable Conditions for Attending UN Meeting

The Taliban set unacceptable conditions for attending a U.N.-sponsored meeting about Afghanistan, including the exclusion of Afghan civil society members and demands for treatment amounting to official recognition as the country’s legitimate rulers. U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres stated that while the Taliban's absence did not damage the process, it would have been useful to discuss the meeting’s conclusions with them. The biggest point of contention remains the bans on women and girls, with the Taliban insisting it's a domestic matter, while the international community sees it as essential to revoke the restrictions.