Islamic Emirate Urges Constructive UN Role as Otunbayeva’s Mission Ends
As Roza Otunbayeva’s mission in Afghanistan comes to an end, the Islamic Emirate has expressed hope that the United Nations will play a constructive and valuable role in the country.
Zabihullah Mujahid, spokesperson for the Islamic Emirate, emphasized the need for the international community to engage with Afghanistan on equal terms and added that the United Nations should facilitate legitimate international engagement.
Speaking , Mujahid said: “We want the United Nations to play a meaningful and positive role—specifically, to foster closer relations between Afghanistan, international organizations, and other countries, and to ensure that assessments and decisions are based on on-the-ground realities.”
Since September 2022, Roza Otunbayeva has served as the head of the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA), taking on one of the most challenging assignments in the organization’s history.
Over the past three years, her mission has primarily focused on three areas: humanitarian aid, human rights issues, and facilitating political engagement between the Islamic Emirate and the international community.
Political analyst Mohebullah Sharifi stated: “Not only were the reports submitted to the UN Security Council criticized by the Islamic Emirate, but most of these reports were also met with criticism from the international community—especially from the veto-wielding members of the Security Council.”
Another analyst, Abdul Sadeq Hamidzoy, added: “Efforts should have been made to create a conducive environment for mutual understanding between Afghanistan and the international community, but no substantial progress was achieved in this regard.”
The UN Security Council is scheduled to hold a session on Afghanistan on the 17th of this month, during which Roza Otunbayeva will present her final report.
Prior to her UN role, Otunbayeva was a well-known figure in Central Asian politics. She served as President of Kyrgyzstan from 2010 to 2011 and held the post of Foreign Minister during multiple terms.
