United Nations

United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres stated on Tuesday that the worldwide group is worried in regards to the presence of terrorists in Afghanistan, which has repercussions for the area and past.

After a gathering of particular envoys on Afghanistan that he convened in Doha, Guterres stated that the members had been anxious in regards to the stability of that nation and expressed critical considerations about “the persistent presence of terrorist organisations — a risk for the country, the region, and further afield”.

Drug trafficking is one other space of great concern about Afghanistan, he stated.

 India was one of many 21 international locations in addition to the European Union and the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation that participated within the assembly.

Guterres stated that the assembly was not about recognising the Taliban regime and as for assembly with them, he stated that this “is not the right moment to do so”.

The assembly was “about developing a common international approach” to Afghanistan and the “participants agreed on the need for not only a strategy of engagement that allows for the stabilisation of Afghanistan, but also allows for addressing important concerns”, he stated.

He added, “While different countries placed different priorities on these concerns, according to their own situation, there is a general recognition that they are intertwined.”

Guterres additionally condemned the “grave violation of human rights” underneath the Taliban, specifically, the restrictions on ladies.

“Let me be crystal clear: We will never be silent in the face of unprecedented, systemic attacks on women and girls’ rights,” he declared.

Guterres described the scenario in Taliban-ruled Afghanistan as “the largest humanitarian crisis in the world today” with six million Afghans “one step away from famine-like conditions”, whereas 28 million “will need humanitarian assistance this year to survive”.

There was a critical shortfall within the $4.6 billion attraction for the Humanitarian Response Plan, having acquired solely $294 million, he stated.

The restrictions on ladies working exterior their properties are impacting the humanitarian operation of the UN as a result of ladies Afghan workers of the UN are being prevented from offering reduction, Guterres stated.

In protest, the UN requested all its workers — about 2,700 Afghan males and 600 worldwide staff, together with 200 ladies who’re exempt from the ban — to remain house until the top of this week.

In a uncommon present of immunity, the UN Security Council final week demanded that the Taliban “swiftly reverse” the restrictions positioned on them.