Briefing ambassadors within the Safety Council, Roza Otunbayeva, Particular Consultant of the UN Secretary-Basic, warned that political engagement with the Taliban has yielded little progress, whereas frustration amongst worldwide stakeholders is rising.
“The area for engagement is narrowing,” she stated, including that some governments now query whether or not dialogue with the Taliban could also be strengthening hardliners.
On the identical time, budgetary constraints, shifting international priorities and rising introspection on the half of some nations danger leaving Afghanistan “poorer, extra weak and extra remoted,” she warned.
“That is an avoidable end result, however provided that all stakeholders acknowledge the danger and search actively to keep away from it, significantly the de facto authorities,” she stated.
“Essentially the most useful growth can be a transparent sign from the de facto authorities that they’re dedicated to the reintegration of Afghanistan with the worldwide group with all that it implies. This can be a moment for realism.”
Humanitarian disaster and funding cuts
Ms. Otunbayeva outlined the dire humanitarian state of affairs in Afghanistan, the place greater than 23 million individuals – over half the inhabitants – require worldwide assist and safety.
Nonetheless, extreme funding shortfalls have already compelled the closure of greater than 200 well being amenities, impacting almost two million individuals, as nicely as resulted in vital reductions to important malnutrition companies.
Afghanistan’s economic system grew by 2.7 % in 2024, pushed largely by regional investments in infrastructure. Nonetheless, this modest development can’t offset the sharp decline in overseas assist or the nation’s continued isolation from the worldwide system.
“Lives and livelihoods will probably be misplaced and growth positive aspects additional eroded … Right here we return to the query of Afghanistan’s worldwide obligations,” she warned.
On the safety entrance, assaults by the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant-Khorasan (ISIL-Ok) proceed, together with lethal suicide bombings, whereas the presence of armed teams such as Tehrik-e Taliban Pakistan (TTP) stays a regional concern.
Taliban’s selective strategy
The Taliban’s strategy to worldwide obligations stays an impediment to Afghanistan’s reintegration into the worldwide group, she stated.
The de facto authorities have engaged in some technical discussions, together with counter-narcotics and personal sector growth. Nonetheless, broader points – particularly human rights – stay largely unaddressed.
“They’ve thus far handled the Afghan State’s worldwide obligations selectively, rejecting some on the idea they allegedly impinge on the nation’s sovereignty or violate their traditions,” she stated.
She warned that these worldwide obligations have an effect on not solely the likelihood of progress alongside the political pathway however, crucially, “the well-being of Afghanistan’s complete inhabitants.”
Worsening restrictions on girls and women
Significantly worrying is the state of affairs of girls and women within the nation, as the Taliban’s extreme restrictions on their rights and freedom persist.
Ms. Otunbayeva warned the latest closure of medical institutes to feminine college students – one of the final remaining avenues for girls to obtain skilled training – will .additional worsen maternal and toddler mortality within the nation.
She additionally cautioned the Taliban’s enforcement of its Regulation on the Prevention of Vice and Promotion of Advantage “stays a serious obstacle” to Afghanistan’s reintegration into the worldwide group.
Name for sensible engagement
Ms. Otunbayeva emphasised that mechanisms for engagement nonetheless exist.
Working teams on counter-narcotics and the personal sector have offered a framework for confidence-building. As well as, the UN’s proposed Complete Method for the primary time identifies a framework to deal with the tough points blocking Afghanistan’s reintegration into the worldwide group.
Nonetheless, progress will depend on political will – on all sides, she stated.
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