At UNSC meeting on Afghanistan, the US permanent representative to the UN, Dorothy Shea, said the US is reassessing its approach to Afghanistan.
“The United States-Afghanistan policy is currently under review,” Shea said, adding that President Trump and Secretary of State Marco Rubio have made clear the administration’s narrowed focus: “Protecting U.S. citizens, including mitigating terrorist threats, and securing the release of all detained Americans are our top priorities in Afghanistan.”
Shea criticized the international community’s aid strategy since the Taliban’s 2021 takeover, calling it “unsustainable” and ineffective in changing the situation on the ground. “We continue to have the same conversations without demanding results from the Taliban,” she said.
While reaffirming the United States’ long-standing investment in Afghanistan — in lives lost and billions of dollars spent — Shea stressed that it was time for the Taliban to demonstrate accountability. “It is in our mutual interest to ensure that Afghanistan never again harbors terrorists, doesn’t engage in hostage diplomacy, and is a net contributor to regional stability rather than a detractor.”
She concluded by calling for change to come from within Afghanistan and expressed hope for a unified international approach that would yield more effective outcomes.
