Taliban team expected in Oslo for aid talks: Norway

OSLO: A Taliban delegation will hold talks with Western officials in Oslo next week on human rights and humanitarian aid in their first official visit to the West since their return to power, the Norwegian foreign ministry said Friday. The visit from Sunday to Tuesday will see meetings with "Norwegian authorities and officials from a number of allied countries", including Britain, the European Union, France, Germany, Italy and the United States, it said.

"We are extremely concerned about the grave situation in Afghanistan, where millions of people are facing a full-blown humanitarian disaster," said Norwegian Foreign Minister Anniken Huitfeldt.

The Taliban swept back to power in Afghanistan last summer as international troops withdrew after a two-decade presence. A US-led invasion in late 2001 had toppled the Taliban in the wake of the September 11, 2001 attacks on the United States.

The humanitarian situation in Afghanistan has deteriorated drastically since August. International aid came to a sudden halt and the United States has frozen $9.5 billion (8.4 billion euros) in assets in the Afghan central bank.

"In order to be able to help the civilian population in Afghanistan, it is essential that both b the international community and Afghans from various parts of society engage in dialogue with the Taliban," Huitfeldt added.

Famine now threatens 23 million Afghans, or 55% of the population, according to the United Nations, which says it needs $5 billion from donor countries this year toaddress the humanitarian crisis in the country.

Stressing that Norway would be "clear about our expectations", particularly on "girls' education and human rights," Huitfeldt said the meetings would "not represent a legitimisation or recognition of the Taliban".

"But we must talk to the de facto authorities in the country. We cannot allow the political situation to lead to an even worse humanitarian disaster," Huitfeldt said. The European Union announced on Thursday that it would re-establish a "minimal presence" of its staff in Kabul to facilitate the delivery of humanitarian aid. No country has yet recognised the Taliban government.

Several nations, including China, Russia, Turkey, the United Arab Emirates and Iran have however kept their embassies in Kabul open since the Taliban victory last year. After participating in the international Operation Enduring Freedom which drove the Taliban from power, Norway, which is used to mediation, has maintained dialogue with the group in recent years.

The international community is waiting to see how the Taliban Islamic fundamentalists intend to govern Afghanistan, after having largely trampled on human rights during their first stint in power between 1996 and 2001.