The UN Security Council will convene on Wednesday for its quarterly briefing on Afghanistan, with the UN political mission in Kabul set to deliver an update on security, human rights and political developments.
The meeting comes as the UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) has been without a permanent UN special envoy for nearly three months, following the departure of Roza Otunbayeva in September. The UN Secretary-General has yet to appoint a successor.
Political analysts say the leadership gap has raised questions over the UN’s ability to manage engagement with the Taliban at a time of deepening rights concerns.
UNAMA has sought to facilitate international dialogue with the Taliban since the group returned to power in 2021 and has led two major initiatives aimed at breaking the country’s political, economic and humanitarian deadlock. Neither effort — the Doha process focused on inclusive governance and a later “Mosaic” initiative aimed at broader engagement — achieved their core goals.
Women’s rights activists accuse UNAMA of creating space for Taliban engagement while failing to secure protections for women and girls, who remain barred from secondary and higher education and most forms of employment.
UNAMA has consistently urged countries to engage the Taliban, while its own reports have revealed of widespread human rights violations by the Taliban, including extrajudicial killings and extensive restrictions on women.
Taliban officials have at times rejected UNAMA’s findings, saying the mission is ineffective and should revise its approach.
The Council is expected to discuss the worsening human rights environment, the humanitarian crisis affecting millions, and ongoing tensions between the Taliban and Pakistan.
