The United Nations has decided to initiate a new one-year mandate for the UN political mission, which is considered ‘crucial’ to establish peace in the region. However, the UN did not use the word ‘Taliban’.
The United Nations Security Council has voted in the favor of establishing formal ties with the Taliban led government in Afghanistan on Thursday. The UN believes that the initiative was very necessary in order to establish peace in Afghanistan. The Taliban government on the other hand has not received widespread recognition in the internationally yet.
The UNSC has approved for a mandate of a year, for the UN political mission without using the word ‘Taliban’ in the resolution. This will enable the International community to carry its work forward in Afghanistan peacefully. This will benefit the region whose economy was wrecked after the international community pulled out its aid following Taliban’s takeover.
The voting ratio included 14 in favor and 1 abstention from Russia. However, the UN has not accepted the Taliban proposed envoy to the body. Furthermore, the UN has also not given any international recognition to the Taliban government.
United Nations Mission to Afghanistan (UNAMA)
The United Nations Mission to Afghanistan is set to provide cooperation on the stands of Humanitarian, political and human rights aspects, including women, children and journalists rights. The resolution was proposed by Norwegian envoy.
Mona Juul, Norwegian UN ambassador stated that, “This new mandate for UNAMA (the UN mission to Afghanistan) is crucial not only to respond to the immediate humanitarian and economic crisis, but also to reach our overarching goal of peace and stability in Afghanistan”.
UNAMA came into existence in 2002 for the first time in Afghanistan. Earlier it consisted of the humanitarian support, human rights advocacy, and political and regional cooperation from the international community.
Before Taliban took over the administration of Afghanistan, this organization helped the region to protect civilians throughout the conflict and support the peace process.
Juul further added, “The Council gives a clear message with this new mandate: UNAMA has a crucial role to play in promoting peace and stability in Afghanistan and to support the Afghan people as they face unprecedented challenges and uncertainty”.
Current situation of Afghanistan
Months after Taliban assumed office in Afghanistan, the situation is likely stabilizing in the region after the US withdrew after 20 year long war. But, certainly the humanitarian crisis has deepened in Afghanistan. There is an acute shortage of food supply in the land. During the winter, Afghanistan faced a huge food crisis.
UN and other global agencies stated that more than half of the population is facing hunger crisis after the winter. Children in Afghanistan were the most affected due to this acute shortage of food supply. Many children are facing malnutrition and many others have also lost their lives.
The country has seen war since last 43 years. It did see some years without war under the Taliban regime in 1996-2001. But, humanitarian crisis rose simultaneously due to the brutal trials and punishments by the government.
Thus, Afghanistan is one of the poorest and least developed countries in the world. The shapers of the country that is the youth is traumatized with the long tenure of war in the region. The country is struggling within the clutches of drugs.
However, the new government is taking measures to combat this crisis, but re-habilitation techniques are very cruel. Further, all the global donors have made it clear that any aid given to Afghanistan will depend on Taliban’s policy making especially towards women’s rights to education and work.
Since the Taliban has returned to power, they have imposed several sanctions on women which has resulted in a state of fear among the women. However, Taliban has ensured to reopen secondary schooling for girls soon.
Published By: Apoorva Wakodikar
Edited By: Subbuthai Padma
