The US hastily cancelled discussions with the Taliban in Doha scheduled to address critical economic issues on Friday, officials said, after Afghanistan’s Islamist rulers reversed a decision to allow all girls to return to high school classes, Reuters reported.

The termination of the talks was the first clear indication that recent Taliban initiatives on human rights and inclusivity could have a direct influence on the international community’s readiness to assist the group, some of whose leaders are sanctioned by the United States.

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“Their decision was a deeply disappointing and inexplicable reversal of commitments to the Afghan people, first and foremost, and also to the international community,” Reuters was told by a representative for the United States State Department.

“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.”

According to three Reuters sources familiar with the situation, the discussions between US and Taliban administration officials were scheduled to take place on the margins of a conference in Qatar’s capital on Saturday and Sunday.

The Reuters sources also said representatives from the United Nations and the World Bank were scheduled to attend several of the meetings.

Also read: Taliban barred females from high schools just hours after they reopened

A spokeswoman for the Afghan foreign ministry confirmed that a Taliban group, including the acting foreign minister, was planning to visit Doha.

The discussions were intended to address topics such as the independence of the Afghan central bank and the issuance of Afghani currency bank notes.

According to the three individuals, a humanitarian exchange facility to free up funds and hundreds of millions of dollars now held in a World Bank Trust Fund meant for Afghanistan’s education sector were also discussed.

They did not want to be identified since they were not authorised to communicate with the media.

“The Qatari jet that was meant to collect Muttaqi’s delegation in Kabul has not turned up,” According to a diplomatic source, the reference is to Acting Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi.

A request for response from the Qatari government’s communications office was not immediately responded to.

The move demonstrates the challenges the Taliban administration confronts in gaining access to foreign funds and opening up the banking sector. Inflation has been fueled by hard cash shortages, exacerbating the economic situation.

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The Taliban have also been unable to access billions of dollars in foreign reserves held by governments around the world, including the United States, because they are not completely recognised.

Aside from the crippled banking system, the steep decline in development aid, which formerly totaled to billions of dollars and assisted the Afghan government in functioning, has exacerbated food shortages and poverty.

According to the United Nations, over 23 million people are suffering from acute hunger, and 95 percent of the population is not eating enough food.

Washington and its allies have demanded that the Taliban, who formerly forbade girls from attending school and most women from working, improve their human rights record.

The Taliban, who launched an insurgency that overthrew the Western-backed government in August, have also been accused of suppressing free expression, forcefully breaking up protests, and exacting lethal retaliation on their erstwhile adversaries.

The group claims it would respect everyone’s rights within the framework of Islamic law and has promised to investigate specific charges of mistreatment.

Also read: Taliban intends to open high schools for girls from March 22

The Taliban reversed their prior decision to open high schools for girls on Wednesday, stating they would remain closed until a strategy to reopen them was developed.

Many students were left in tears as a result of the backtracking, which sparked small rallies by girls in Kabul. It was also condemned by humanitarian organisations and other governments.

“They are definitely shooting themselves in the foot,” Graeme Smith, a senior expert with International Crisis Group, commented on the choice to educate girls.

A significant donor summit for humanitarian relief is slated to take place this month, co-hosted by the United Kingdom, in an effort to help gather the $4.4 billion in money that the UN says is required to fulfil the country’s immediate needs.

Diplomats and relief organisations are concerned that the Ukraine conflict, along with the Taliban’s decision on females’ education, will make it more difficult to raise the funds.

“The decision is understandable,” Human Rights Watch’s John Sifton commented on the US move. “The U.S. 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.”