The United Nations Security Council (UNSC) is set to hold a closed-door meeting on Afghanistan next week. Participants from the recent special envoys meeting on Afghanistan in Doha reported that UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres will present a report to UNSC member states, summarizing the meeting’s outcomes.
The report is expected to include recommendations from regional and world countries regarding the formation of inclusive governments and the protection of human rights and women’s rights. It will also focus on implementing the Doha agreement and activating the recommendations from the UN’s independent assessment.
Faiz Mohammad Zaland, a university lecturer and participant in the Doha meeting, mentioned that the Doha meeting’s recommendations would be discussed in the upcoming UNSC meeting. “The UN Secretary-General will provide a report to this (UNSC) meeting, aiming to expedite matters from the UN’s independent assessment regarding Afghanistan,” he said.
The Taliban declined to attend the Doha meeting, citing unmet conditions by the UN. They have also opposed the appointment of a UN special envoy for Afghanistan. However, Guterres stated that he would “immediately” begin consultations on appointing an envoy who would work with all parties, including the Taliban and representatives of the Afghan people, such as women’s rights defenders, to explore paths toward forming an inclusive government.
Hadia Sahibzada, a women’s rights defender, expressed skepticism about the Taliban’s cooperation. “The Taliban will always create obstacles for the people, society, and government of Afghanistan,” she said.
Some political movements and women’s rights groups, in a joint statement, emphasized that unilateral engagement without political movements would not lead to a successful political outcome for Afghanistan. The statement advocated for the appointment of UN special envoys and stressed the importance of consulting all influential stakeholders to resolve Afghanistan’s crisis effectively.
