Representatives of various countries have made statements at the United Nations on the situation in Afghanistan.
Representatives at the United Nations have expressed concerns and put forward demands regarding human rights, the situation of women and girls, economic challenges, humanitarian assistance, and the fight against terrorism and narcotics in Afghanistan.
The representative of Malaysia said that restrictions imposed on women’s education, employment, and participation in social life in Afghanistan are threatening the future of women. He called on the Taliban to ensure the rights of women and girls and lift the restrictions imposed on them.
He also expressed concern about the situation of children in Afghanistan and welcomed rehabilitation programs for children who had been involved in armed conflicts. The Malaysian representative stressed that no child should be used in military operations and called on the international community to continue constructive engagement with Afghanistan. He said Malaysia would continue to support capacity-building programs and humanitarian assistance.
The representative of Japan expressed deep concern about human rights in Afghanistan, particularly what he described as systematic discrimination against women and girls.
The Japanese representative said the Taliban’s restrictions affect not only the current lives of women and girls but also threaten the future of Afghanistan. He called on the Taliban to uphold their international commitments and protect the rights of women and girls.
The representative of Russia said his country recognizes the rights of the Afghan people and called on the authorities in Afghanistan to remain committed to the rights of the people and continue the fight against terrorism and narcotics.
He accused the West of adopting a “double standard” toward Afghanistan, saying that, on the one hand, Afghanistan’s assets are being restricted, while on the other hand, there are calls for improving the living conditions of the Afghan people.
The Russian representative stressed that humanitarian assistance should not be tied to political issues or conditions. He said the years-long presence of Western countries in Afghanistan had produced negative consequences and called on the international community not to allow political considerations to interfere with humanitarian assistance to the Afghan people.
The representative of Iran said that depriving girls of education further deepens the cycle of social and developmental underdevelopment, and that its consequences would not be limited to Afghanistan but would affect the entire region.
She raised questions about how the voices of Afghan children, particularly girls, could be genuinely heard and their rights protected.
The Iranian representative added that her country has hosted millions of Afghans for more than four decades and claimed that Iran has provided Afghan refugees, particularly children, with access to education and healthcare services. She said hosting Afghan refugees has placed significant economic and social pressures on Iran and that the international community has not done enough to share this burden.
The representative of Belgium said that five years after the Taliban returned to power, the group has shaped Afghanistan according to its ideological outlook and restricted the rights and freedoms of the people.
He described the situation of women and girls as “bleak and dire,” saying they face systematic discrimination. Referring to the Taliban’s recent decree concerning the separation of married couples, he said such regulations make it extremely difficult for women to separate from their husbands and contribute, in practice, to the continuation of violence against women.
The representative of Qatar described Afghanistan as facing a “major humanitarian crisis” and said that around 45 percent of the country’s population requires humanitarian assistance.
He said insecurity, economic difficulties, displacement, and the freezing of Afghanistan’s assets are increasing the risk of instability.
The Qatari representative stressed that his country supports the right of girls to education in Afghanistan and has provided assistance in building shelters for Afghan children and supporting the education of thousands of students.
He said Qatar has hosted dialogue with the Taliban and wants the international community, together with Qatar, to pursue a comprehensive approach to Afghanistan that guarantees the political participation and rights of the Afghan people.
The representative of Canada strongly condemned what she described as systematic human rights violations in Afghanistan.
She said women, children, and minorities are victims of these violations, and that the system established by the Taliban has created significant barriers to women’s education and participation in public life.
The Canadian representative claimed that restrictions on women and girls’ education and participation in public life have also contributed to an increase in child and forced marriages. She stressed that Afghans deserve justice and said Canada would continue working with other countries to hold the Taliban accountable.
The representative of Pakistan, speaking on behalf of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, expressed concern over Afghanistan’s social and economic situation and called on the Taliban to lift restrictions on girls’ education.
He said that, from the perspective of Islam, all people should enjoy equal rights and opportunities without discrimination.
He called on the Taliban to implement the United Nations Charter, the Charter of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, and Afghanistan’s international commitments. He also stressed the need to support people in need, children, and the elderly, expressed solidarity with the people of Afghanistan, and reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to combating terrorism.
The Pakistani representative said that the member states of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation want an Afghanistan in which, according to him, all citizens enjoy equal rights.
The representative of Italy said that the Taliban’s laws and policies will push women further to the margins of society in Afghanistan.
He said the dismantling of support systems for children could expose women to further violence. He called on the Taliban to respect international commitments and laws and to take steps to end what he described as a system of “systematic discrimination and oppression” against women and girls.
Meanwhile, during the 63rd session of the United Nations Human Rights Council, Abdullah bin Ali Behzad, Deputy Head of the Permanent Mission of Qatar to the United Nations Office in Geneva, said that Qatar has supported Afghanistan through mediation, dialogue, and humanitarian assistance.
Behzad said Afghanistan continues to face major humanitarian crises and that insecurity, economic difficulties, climate change, displacement, declining international assistance, the return of millions of refugees, sanctions, and the freezing of assets have further complicated the situation in the country.
He said the education of children, particularly girls, is among Qatar’s key priorities, adding that the Qatar Fund for Development, in cooperation with several organizations, has supported around 30,000 students deprived of education since 2023.
Overall, representatives of various countries at the United Nations have expressed differing views on Afghanistan’s humanitarian situation, the rights of women and girls, education, economic challenges, and humanitarian assistance. Several countries called on the Taliban to lift restrictions on women and girls, while Russia and some other representatives also raised concerns about the international community’s approach toward Afghanistan, including sanctions and the freezing of Afghan assets.
At the same time, the representatives called on the international community to continue humanitarian assistance and constructive engagement with Afghanistan and to increase efforts aimed at promoting stability in the country and improving the living conditions of the Afghan people.
