Amid worries about the risks faced by pregnant women in Afghanistan, the United Nations has set up family health houses to make sure women have safe childbirth. However, experts believe that the healthcare infrastructure in Afghanistan is not capable of ensuring safe childbirth for women.

Women in Afghanistan are exposed to irreparable harms, and among them, pregnant women bear the greatest cost for the current situation. General reports on the status of mothers in Afghanistan indicate that this country has allocated the highest maternal mortality rate among Asian countries.

The United Nations Population Fund announced in March 2022 that out of every 100,000 births in Afghanistan, 638 mothers lose their lives during childbirth, a figure unseen in any other Asian country. The organization stated in its report on the occasion of International Women’s Day that $250 million is needed to address the situation of pregnant women in Afghanistan.

It is still unclear whether this requested amount has been provided by donor countries to the United Nations or not, but Afghanistan still holds the highest maternal mortality rate among Asian countries. The continuation of this situation has led to widespread concerns, and public discussions indicate that women’s lack of access to healthcare facilities is one of the most serious concerns in Afghanistan.

The United Nations Office for Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) recently announced the establishment of 25 family health houses in Uruzgan province, stating that “quality healthcare services for pregnant women can ensure safe childbirth.”

This office wrote on its social platform X, Monday, February 26, that with the financial assistance of the European Union, these family health units have been established to ensure that women have access to skilled care.

Social issues experts believe that the healthcare system in Afghanistan lacks the necessary infrastructure to support pregnant women because, according to their estimate, most doctors and healthcare workers have left Afghanistan, and alongside this, people are grappling with a severe food crisis.

A public health professor who also has experience in dealing with public health crises, on the condition of anonymity, told Khaama Press that these two factors (the exodus of healthcare workers and poverty) have paralyzed the healthcare system in Afghanistan.

He argues that establishing family health units may help women in some villages, but Afghanistan has more than 400 districts, with hundreds of villages registered in each district, stating, “If all pregnant women in Afghanistan are supposed to be covered by UN support, thousands of family health units must be established.”

This university professor criticizes the performance of the Taliban administration and the United Nations regarding support for pregnant women, suggesting that more effective strategies need to be pursued. He proposes that the enrollment of girls in medical fields should be increased, and the United Nations should concentrate its support programs on educating girls in healthcare sectors in all provinces of Afghanistan.

The deputy of Iran’s Environmental Organization states that despite negotiations with the Taliban, Iran’s water share has not been allocated yet.

Mojtaba Zoljoodi said, “Unfortunately, not only is the environmental share not provided, but also the people’s drinking water share has not been secured. In these circumstances, diplomatic actions are needed.”

He emphasized in an interview with ISNA news agency that the water share should come from Hilmand into Iran.

Mr. Zoljoodi says that pursuing Iran’s water share from Afghanistan is under the responsibility of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Islamic Republic, ordered by President Ebrahim Raisi.

The deputy of Iran’s Environmental Organization added, “In a meeting with the Taliban, they promised that if there is adequate rainfall and proper water storage in the dams, Iran’s water share will be released.”

According to him, Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar, the deputy prime minister of the Taliban, promised during his last visit to Iran that the water share would be provided.

He also mentioned that the Iranian government has utilized all its efforts to solve the water share issue.

Meanwhile, the Islamic Republic official said that the Taliban authorities had promised to reopen the Kamal Khan Dam in times of abundance, but they have not yet fulfilled this promise.

However, Afghan experts argue that Iran’s demands exceed those outlined in the 1972 accord. Additionally, with the water levels decreasing, Iranian officials’ requests for additional water from the Helmand River are seen as increasingly unreasonable.

The diminishing water levels have rendered Iranian officials’ appeals for extra water from the Helmand River largely inconsequential, a point emphasized by Afghan experts who maintain that Iran’s demands surpass the terms established in the 1972 agreement.

The agreement grants Iran 820 million cubic meters of water annually under normal conditions. Yet, experts claim Iran consistently receives double its allotted share from the Helmand River.

In a sharp rebuttal that reignites the longstanding debate over the contentious Durand Line, Sher Mohammad Abbas Stanikzai, the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs for Afghanistan’s de facto authorities, has categorically dismissed Pakistani claims to the historic boundary. Speaking to TOLOnews, Stanikzai emphasized that the Durand Line, a product of British colonial legacy, holds no legitimacy in the eyes of the Afghan government.

Stanikzai’s remarks came as a direct response to Pakistani officials’ assertions regarding the Durand Line, which has been a focal point of diplomatic friction between the two nations. “The Durand Line is an imaginary line, and there is no issue between Pakistan and us in this respect,” Stanikzai stated, highlighting the colonial origins of the dispute. He refuted the Pakistani stance by pointing out that the agreement to draw the Durand Line was made between the British and Amir Abdul Rahman Khan, not involving what is now Pakistan, as the country did not exist at the time.

The Deputy Foreign Minister went further to underscore the historical context, noting, “Pakistan did not exist when Durand’s imaginary line was drawn. Fifty years later, Pakistan was established. Pakistan is younger than the Durand Line.” This perspective not only challenges the current geopolitical narrative but also delves into the colonial past, questioning the very foundation upon which the border dispute rests.

The discourse around the Durand Line, according to political analysts like Fahim Chakari, requires international intervention. Chakari suggests that the United Nations should step in to facilitate a resolution that genuinely reflects the will of the people on both sides of the line. This call for a democratic approach to solving the border issue highlights the complexities surrounding territorial disputes inherited from colonial rule.

The Afghan stance contrasts starkly with that of Anwar ul-Haq Kakar, the Prime Minister of Pakistan’s caretaker government, who in a special interview with TOLOnews, claimed the Durand Line as an “internationally recognized border” between Afghanistan and Pakistan. This claim by Pakistan’s highest office not only asserts the line’s legitimacy but also represents an attempt to solidify its status amidst ongoing disputes.

The Durand Line, stretching over 2,400 kilometers, has been a contentious issue since its inception in 1893, dividing ethnic Pashtun territories and disrupting traditional nomadic routes. The disagreement over this boundary has fueled tensions, leading to recurring diplomatic clashes and complicating the relationship between Afghanistan and Pakistan.

As officials from Afghanistan’s de facto authorities once again challenge Pakistan’s assertions, the Durand Line remains a symbol of colonial imposition and a reminder of the unresolved issues that continue to plague South Asian geopolitics. The international community’s role, particularly that of entities like the United Nations, could prove crucial in navigating towards a peaceful and mutually acceptable resolution.

This latest exchange not only highlights the enduring legacy of colonial borders in shaping modern state relations but also underscores the importance of dialogue, understanding, and international cooperation in addressing the remnants of a divided past. As Kabul and Islamabad navigate these turbulent waters, the path forward remains uncertain, with historical grievances and national pride at the forefront of this geopolitical standoff.