UAE calls on Security Council to adopt ‘strategic approach’ to Afghanistan
The United Arab Emirates has called on the United Nations Security Council to adopt a strategic approach to deal with the situation in Afghanistan, and dialog should be a means to address the challenges there.
In a speech during a Security Council session yesterday, Tuesday, devoted to the situation in Afghanistan, Ameira Al-Hefeiti, Deputy Permanent Representative of the United Arab Emirates to the Council, expressed what has happened in Afghanistan over the past months, and the negative view of the new year, which “does not hold promising hopes for the Afghan people.”
In this context, the UAE official mentioned Afghanistan’s record of the highest rates of food insecurity, where two-thirds of the country’s population is in need of humanitarian assistance, while the situation of women and girls is worsening, especially with the imposition of a new wave of restrictions on access to public places, which requires, according to Al-Hefeiti, a firm response from the Council.
Al-Hefeiti noted the deterioration in security, the challenges the Taliban face in fighting terrorism, and recent attacks, including the attack on the Pakistani embassy in Kabul, which the UAE condemned. She also said the UAE would continue to condemn all forms of violence and terrorism, which undermine the country’s security and stability.
UAE-proposed strategic approach to Afghanistan:
The UAE presented a plan to the UN Security Council through a strategic approach based on several points.
Talking to the Taliban
“In light of the latest developments and the fact that the de facto authorities are not responding to the Council’s calls, the international community may be inclined to stop dealing with the authorities and redouble its attempts to isolate them,” Al-Hefeiti said. But the UAE still “believes there is no alternative to dialog, and this is in line with its continuing calls for thoughtful engagement with the de facto authorities.
Focus on productive areas
Al-Hefeiti called on the UAE’s deputy representative at the Security Council to focus on areas that produce tangible results; She cited the recent international conference in Bali devoted to the education of Afghan women as an example of international efforts to find ways to bring about real change. In this regard, Al-Hefeiti welcomed the launch of the Afghan Fund announced last September, expressing her country’s aspiration to contribute to the stability of the economy; for the Afghan people.
Renewal of UNAMA mandate
In the third point of this strategic approach, the UAE called on the international community to speak with one voice and send a clear and firm message to the actors in Afghanistan, pointing to the need to renew the mandate of the UNAMA mission, which was able to achieve results on the ground in various areas of its mandate, whether humanitarian, political or economic.
In this regard, the UAE deputy representative to the Security Council expressed her country’s hope that “the Council will be able to look at the renewal of the mandate as an opportunity to review the strengths and weaknesses of the mandate and assess the needs of the mission, while avoiding the creation of unjustified divisions on the priorities of the mission’s work.”
The threat of climate change in Afghanistan
The UAE official warned of the negative impact of climate change on the situation in Afghanistan, saying that this could be a source of insecurity; Afghanistan is the sixth most vulnerable country in the world due to climate change.
We believe that the mandate given to UNAMA to monitor and report on the negative effects of the drought will allow humanitarian actors to adapt their response to enable Afghan communities to withstand these repercussions. We would certainly be pleased to hear a briefing on UNAMA’s assessment of the implications of climate change, and how the United Nations, including this Council, can better support and respond to these challenges in Afghanistan.
Ending with optimism
“We must not give in to the idea that the new year will be a difficult one. We in the Security Council must be fully prepared to consider all possible ways to help the Afghan people and alleviate their plight. In the end, we all share one vision: Afghanistan becomes a stable, inclusive and self-sufficient country, with men and women alike playing productive roles in their communities. “We look forward to continuing to work with all of you next year to realize this vision.”
