UNAMA Chief at UNSC Calls for Engagement With Interim Govt

The head of the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) and the UN special envoy on Afghanistan Roza Otunbayeva stressed the importance of engaging with Afghanistan’s interim government during the 4th meeting of the United Nations Security Council on Afghanistan.

Roza Otunbayeva, while providing details on human rights issues, media, security, and the economic challenges faced by the Afghan people, stated that the citizens of the country are calling for engagement with the Islamic Emirate.

Roza Otunbayeva said: “As I have stressed before, engagement is not normalization or recognition. It’s a way of consistently communicating the advantages of rejoining the international system. It’s a way of preventing Afghanistan’s isolation or worse a return to conflict. Across Afghanistan many people tell us that they want us to engage more with the de facto authorities.”

During the meeting, representatives from the United States, France, Japan, and several other nations expressed concerns about the increasing restrictions on women’s education.

Japan’s representative noted that the implementation of such decisions would negatively impact Afghanistan’s social and healthcare systems.

Yamazaki Kazuyuki, Japan’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, said: “Banning women and girls from receiving education at medical institutions, if implemented, this directive would not only further restrict women and girls’ rights to education and access to healthcare, but also have a negative impact on Afghanistan’s social and healthcare system as well as its development. We call on the Taliban not to put this directive in place.”

Linda Thomas-Greenfield, the U.S. Permanent Representative, reiterated the need for an independent assessment of the situation in Afghanistan and supported the appointment of a special representative to implement such an assessment.

The US Permanent Representative to the United Nations said: “Colleagues, it has been a year since this council adopted this resolution, in which we also requested the Secretary-General appoint a special envoy to develop this roadmap to reintegrate Afghanistan into the international community. The United States expects the UN-led Doha process to support this roadmap and promote the Taliban’s adherence to the international community’s expectations.”

The Russian Permanent Representative, reflecting on the efforts of Afghanistan’s interim government over the past three years, stated that his country will continue its support for Afghanistan.

Vassily Nebenzia, Russia’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, said: “Afghans need our full support and cooperation now more than ever. The Russian Federation has consistently supported and will continue to support a comprehensive and realistic approach to Afghanistan.”

Discussions on terrorism were also part of this meeting.

At the conclusion of the meeting, 14 countries issued a joint statement calling for an end to restrictions on human rights and conditioning the recognition of the Islamic Emirate on the restoration of women’s rights in the country.

Although the Islamic Emirate did not respond to the comments of the council members, it has previously dismissed the outcomes of such meetings held without its representatives as unrealistic.