NAC Urges Continued International Support for Afghanistan
The Country Director of the Norwegian Afghanistan Committee (NAC) has reaffirmed the organization’s commitment to supporting Afghanistan, saying its assistance will continue regardless of the country’s governing system.
In an interview Terje Magnussønn Watterdal, the NAC country director, called on the international community to maintain its support for Afghanistan.
Watterdal said: “Many of the issues Afghanistan is facing are not because of Afghanistan itself; they are the result of foreign interventions. So, we have a moral obligation to continue supporting Afghanistan, even as there is a reduction in international development aid and humanitarian assistance.”
Referring to the one-year extension of the UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA), Watterdal also urged the international community to continue engaging with Afghanistan’s current authorities.
Emphasizing girls’ right to education and women’s participation in society, he said the international community could encourage the current authorities to make progress in these areas.
He added: “It’s not up to the international community to decide the policies of Afghanistan. We may disagree with many of the policies that are in place, but that’s not up to us. We don’t want the Afghan government to interfere in our regional politics, and neither do they want us to interfere in theirs. So, dialogue is really important, and I am sure we can find ways to make progress together.”
Norway has long been actively engaged in Afghanistan. Before the Islamic Emirate’s return to power, it hosted several rounds of talks between the former Afghan government and representatives of the Islamic Emirate.
