GENEVA — The UN mission in Afghanistan has not consulted opposition voices in its draft “mosaic plan”, according to Afghanistan’s envoy to the UN in Geneva, who says political groups, civil society and women’s representatives have been sidelined in the process.
Naseer Ahmad Andisha, Afghanistan’s permanent representative to the United Nations in Geneva, said the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) had not responded to feedback submitted by non-Taliban actors regarding the controversial roadmap, which is intended to guide Afghanistan’s reintegration into the international community.
“UNAMA has not formally consulted or negotiated this plan with any of the main representatives of the Afghan people, political factions, or civil society,” Andisha told Amu TV. “Some groups managed to access the draft independently and shared comments, but UNAMA has not responded.”
The “mosaic plan”, still in the consultative phase, outlines a framework through which the international community could normalize relations with Afghanistan under Taliban control. According to officials familiar with the draft, it reflects the Taliban’s key demands — including access to frozen state assets, removal from international sanctions lists, and control over Afghanistan’s diplomatic representation at the United Nations and abroad.
In return, the plan reportedly outlines general principles such as inclusive governance, protection of human rights, and counterterrorism cooperation as expectations from the Taliban — though critics argue these conditions are vague and unenforceable.
“The Taliban’s demands are concrete and measurable,” Andisha said. “They want diplomatic legitimacy, access to foreign reserves, and sanctions lifted. Meanwhile, the international community’s expectations remain undefined.”
Civil and political opposition
The draft has been met with growing backlash from Afghan political parties and civic groups. The Jamiat-e Islami faction, led by Atta Mohammad Noor, issued a statement calling the Mosaic plan a “thinly veiled attempt to legitimize an imposed and extremist regime.” The group accused UNAMA of abandoning its neutral mandate and lobbying for Taliban recognition.
“UNAMA and some of its affiliates have shifted from neutrality to appeasement,” the statement said. “By facilitating this process, they are betraying the Afghan people.”
Women’s protest movements have also voiced opposition. Activists from the Spontaneous Women’s Protest Movement and the Lantern of Women’s Freedom Movement staged demonstrations, calling for an immediate halt to what they describe as a political normalization campaign that excludes the people of Afghanistan.
“We demand a complete review of this plan,” said one protester in Kabul. “Any process that excludes Afghan women and civil society has no legitimacy.”
International concerns
Andisha also noted that some G7 member states and regional governments have already expressed reservations about the Mosaic framework. He did not name specific countries but said opposition is growing, particularly over the plan’s lack of inclusivity and transparency.
UNAMA, in a statement to Amu TV, said the plan is still under review and that consultations are ongoing with all stakeholders. However, Andisha maintained that to date, the mission has engaged only with the Taliban and a select group of foreign diplomats, leaving out many key Afghan constituencies.
“This isn’t just a flawed approach — it’s a dangerous one,” Andisha warned. “Rewarding repression with recognition, without accountability or public participation, could cement authoritarian rule in Afghanistan.”
The mosaic plan is being developed in the context of the Doha Process, which involves 25 countries and multilateral actors discussing Afghanistan’s future governance. But with the process largely conducted behind closed doors, critics say it risks becoming a political blueprint crafted without the Afghan people.
“The central question is: who represents the people of Afghanistan in this process?” Andisha said. “If UNAMA cannot answer that, then the legitimacy of this entire framework is in doubt.”
