Afghanistan Peace CampaignRussia, maintaining formal relations with the interim Afghan government, criticized the Western-centric approach to resolving Afghanistan’s issues.
The Islamic Emirate’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs has announced that it will review the recently adopted UN General Assembly resolution on Afghanistan in accordance with Islamic principles and national interests. While acknowledging that some humanitarian realities in Afghanistan were overlooked, the Ministry emphasized its commitment to assessing the resolution’s recommendations within the framework of Islamic guidelines and national priorities.
In response to the resolution, Zia Ahmad Takal, head of public relations at the Ministry, said: “Despite this, the Islamic Emirate will evaluate the stated demands and suggestions in this resolution within the framework of the guidance of the noble religion of Islam and national interests, and will determine areas where cooperation is possible.”
The resolution, passed with 116 votes in favor, 2 against (the United States and Israel), and 12 abstentions (including Russia, China, India, and Iran), calls on Afghanistan’s ruling authorities to reverse oppressive policies against women and girls and to dismantle terrorist organizations operating within the country.
Russia, maintaining formal relations with the interim Afghan government, criticized the Western-centric approach to resolving Afghanistan’s issues and emphasized constructive engagement with the interim authorities.
“We are disappointed by the open refusal of some Western colleagues to even mention the role of certain regional mechanisms in the section on regional cooperation that was created specifically for this purpose, even though these mechanisms remain the only platform for regional interaction on a wide range of issues,” said Anna Evstigneeva, Russia’s Deputy Permanent Representative to the UN.
China reiterated its support for the interim government while encouraging the formation of an inclusive political structure. Geng Shuang, China’s Deputy Permanent Representative to the UN, stated: “We encourage the interim government of Afghanistan to establish an inclusive political structure and a moderate administration, emphasizing dialogue and consultation to achieve national reconciliation and internal unity.”
Qatar and Saudi Arabia also emphasized in the UN General Assembly the importance of coordinated international efforts on Afghanistan and support for political stability in the country.
Sheikha Alya Ahmed bin Saif Al-Thani, Qatar’s Representative to the UN, said: “The State of Qatar stresses the importance of solidarity and joint international efforts so that the people of Afghanistan can build a country governed by peace, stability, and development.”
Abdulaziz Al-Wasel, Saudi Arabia’s Permanent Representative to the UN, also said: “Saudi Arabia reaffirms its commitment to continue supporting political, humanitarian, and developmental efforts aimed at stabilizing Afghanistan and again urges the international community not to abandon Afghanistan.”
On the other hand, the European Union and Germany have called for the appointment of a UN Special Envoy for Afghanistan and support for the UN-led Doha process.
The United States, which has yet to take a clear stance on the caretaker government, appears dissatisfied with the ongoing efforts to resolve Afghan issues.
Stavros Lambrinidis, EU Representative to the UN, said: “The EU also calls for the appointment of a UN Special Envoy for Afghanistan, in line with UNSC resolution 2721, to facilitate international coordination, promote a peaceful resolution to the conflict, and support the implementation of the Comprehensive Approach roadmap.”
Antje Leendertse, Germany’s UN Representative, said: “As many others, Germany acknowledges that there is no alternative to engagement with the Taliban, and we will continue to actively contribute to the UN-led Doha process.”
“With regard to international cooperation and the UN-led Doha process, it too has yielded few sustainable results. The United States is deeply skeptical about the Taliban’s willingness to participate in good faith. When they are willing to engage, it is only on their terms and to the detriment of our interests,” said Jonathan Shrier, U.S. Representative to the UN Economic and Social Council.
The UN General Assembly’s discussion on Afghanistan once again highlighted that nearly four years on, the international community has not reached a comprehensive agreement on the issue. The outcomes of future meetings on Afghanistan remain to be seen.