UN talks in Doha end; recognition remains distant dream for Taliban  

Zabihullah Mujahid of Afghanistan's Taliban government, center right, speaks with Russian envoy Zamir Kabulov in Doha, Qatar, June 30, 2024. The third round of talks on global engagement with the Taliban ended July 1. (Taliban spokesman's office via AP)

The third round of U.N.-led talks to explore engagement with Afghanistan ended Monday without the Taliban making any reform pledges or winning concessions from the international community.