Atlantic Council Suggests Conflict Prevention Mechanism for Afghanistan

In its recommendations, the council noted that since the “Taliban’s” rule in Afghanistan, the country’s relations with its neighbors have reached a critical point due to issues related to drugs, terrorism, and water.

The council pointed to issues such as water-related matters, drugs, the maneuvers of terrorist groups including the re-establishment of al-Qaeda, TTP attacks on Pakistan, and the increasing complexity of ISIS-Khorasan’s attacks, which have strained Afghanistan’s relations with its neighbors.

The council described regional efforts to prevent conflict, including regional meetings on Afghanistan, as temporary and ineffective.

“Afghanistan’s neighbors have different concerns, for example, the northern neighbors are worried about ISIS; however, we have repeatedly witnessed that the Islamic Emirate has dismissed these concerns,” said Zakiullah Mohammadi, a university scholar.

The Atlantic Council titled its recommendations: “Establish a UN conflict prevention mechanism for the Afghanistan region” and added that this mechanism should include a UN Special Representative, a UN Preventive Diplomacy Center for the Afghanistan region led by the Special Envoy, and a regional advisory council with Afghanistan’s neighbors, including Pakistan, Iran, China, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan.

“The appointment of a UN Special Representative for Afghanistan is essential, and we hope that the current rulers of Afghanistan will show flexibility and allow this to happen because it is in Afghanistan’s interest,” said Najib Rahman Shamal, a political analyst.

So far, the Islamic Emirate has not commented on the recommendations but has consistently denied the presence of terrorist groups in Afghanistan and considered the appointment of a UN Special Representative for Afghanistan unnecessary.