7 July 2025

Mr. President,

Thank you for convening this important session on the situation of Afghanistan and the adoption of the resolution under this agenda item. Let me begin by expressing our deep appreciation to the Government of Germany for its continued principled engagement in support of the Afghan people, and to its Permanent Mission here in New York for its longstanding leadership and dedicated efforts as the traditional facilitator of this resolution. We extend our sincere thanks to Ambassador Antje Leendertse, Counsellor Mathias Voss, and their team for conducting an inclusive and transparent negotiation process. We are equally grateful to all Member States that engaged constructively, demonstrating solidarity with the Afghan people by supporting and co-sponsoring this resolution.

Mr. President,

Afghanistan is at a crossroads. Since August 2021, the country has experienced alarming regression across all sectors—social, political, economic, and human rights. Nearly four years under Taliban rule have driven Afghanistan into one of the world’s gravest humanitarian and human rights crises, as extensively documented by the Secretary-General and the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Afghanistan. The Taliban continued to deny and reject the legitimate demands of the Afghan people and the international community. The Taliban’s policies have entrenched authoritarian control and codified systemic discrimination—particularly against women and girls. Notable examples include the enactment of the so-called “Law on the Propagation of Virtue and the Prevention of Vice”, the ban on medical institutes, the prohibition of women’s employment in NGOs, and threats against Afghan female UN staff. Afghanistan remains the only country in the world where girls are officially banned from secondary and higher education. This policy—now in effect for four consecutive academic years—is not only a severe human rights violation but a strategic disaster undermining peace, prosperity, and the future of the nation. We therefore welcome the resolution’s strong emphasis on human rights, governance, and the rule of law. We fully support the urgent call for the reversal of Taliban policies that institutionalize gender discrimination and gender apartheid in Afghanistan. We reiterate our appeal for strengthened international monitoring and accountability mechanisms, including the full implementation of CEDAW, activation of the International Criminal Court, and, crucially, the recognition and codification of gender apartheid as a crime under international law.

Mr. President,

The resolution rightly underscores that lasting peace in Afghanistan requires inclusive, representative, and participatory governance. We strongly support the call for a credible political process rooted in genuine intra-Afghan dialogue that reflects the diverse aspirations of all Afghans—women, youth, minorities, and civil society. The Taliban are a group which – should they wish – be part of the solution to Afghanistan’s crisis, but they can never be the sole solution by themselves. They are by no means representative of the Afghan people or its culture, nor do their policies reflect Islamic values. We welcome the resolution’s encouragement of the Secretary-General to appoint a coordinator to facilitate a more coherent, coordinated, and structured international approach, and to promote the recommendations of the Independent Assessment. We hope that the coordinator with full authority could coordinate diplomatic efforts, facilitate inclusive political dialogue, ensure engagement with all Afghan stakeholders. Any form of legitimacy must be derived through respect for the will of the Afghan people. Afghan ownership must remain central to any legitimate political solution. These are two key imperatives which the people of Afghanistan expect to receive greater attention by the international friends of Afghanistan in the way forward.

Mr. President,

We commend the resolution’s focus on the dire humanitarian situation and its call for principled, gender-responsive assistance. With over 23 million Afghans in urgent need of life-saving aid— amid economic collapse and climate-induced disasters—international solidarity is not optional; it is a moral obligation. We echo the resolution’s call for sustained support to prevent the collapse of essential services and emphasize the need to protect humanitarian access, especially for Afghan women aid workers, who have been unlawfully barred from working. On education, we welcome the resolution’s dedicated section by reaffirming its unwavering commitment to inclusive, equitable, quality education. The Taliban’s continued denial of education to girls, coupled with the growing number of so-called jihadi madrasas replacing modern schools, gravely compromises Afghanistan’s future. Denying girls the right to learn is not only a moral outrage—it is a national tragedy. We commend regional and international efforts to support Afghan youth’s education and urge further expansion of educational access for women and girls both inside and outside the country.

Mr. President,

On the plight of Afghan refugees, I would like to draw the serious attention of this Assembly to the situation of Afghan refugees, particularly regarding their forced return and the disturbing reports of inhumane treatment, which have increased in recently. We thank the resolution’s sponsors for recognizing the urgent need for sustained and principled support. We remain grateful to host countries, particularly the Islamic Republics of Iran and Pakistan, for their long  standing hospitality. However, we express serious concern about the ongoing forced returns of Afghan refugees under unsafe and inhumane conditions. Many of these individuals fled political persecution, gender-based violence, and systematic repression. This is taking place while the humanitarian crisis, poverty, unemployment, and uncertainty about the future continue to prevail in Afghanistan. We urge all host countries—especially Iran and Pakistan—to uphold the principle of non refoulement and to manage refugee matters with compassion, in accordance with international law, Islamic values, and good neighborly principles. Increased international solidarity and support is essential to ensure the safety, dignity, and sustainable reintegration of Afghan refugees as well as to the host countries.

Mr. President,

We share the resolution’s strong concerns regarding the presence of over two dozen terrorist groups in Afghanistan, as confirmed by the UN Monitoring Team. These groups—including ISIL-K and Al-Qaida affiliates—pose grave threats to regional and global security. The alarming proliferation of Jihadi Madrasas also contributes to the radicalization of youth and the spread of violent extremism. Afghanistan must never again become a safe haven or breeding ground for terrorism. The nexus between terrorism and the illicit narcotics trade further destabilizes the region. We therefore welcome the resolution’s comprehensive language on counterterrorism and counter-narcotics, and we underscore the importance of a coordinated, rights-based, and multilateral approach that fully respects international humanitarian and human rights law.

Mr. President,

This resolution rightly establishes clear benchmarks for any form of international engagement with the Taliban. These include respect for human rights, meaningful progress on inclusive governance, and full compliance with counterterrorism and counter-narcotics obligations. Such engagement must remain principled, conditional, and benchmark-driven—not motivated by geopolitical expediency. We acknowledge the role of the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) and its potential to promote peace and stability. However, for UNAMA to remain credible and effective, it must expand its engagement with the full spectrum of Afghan society—especially democratic actors, women leaders, youth, and civil society, as called for in its mandate. While we note ongoing initiatives, including the Mosaic Framework, we reiterate our serious concerns regarding its transparency, inclusivity, and strategic clarity. Any credible UN-led political process must be Afghan-owned, inclusive, conditional, and accompanied by clear accountability measures and enforceable benchmarks to avoid legitimizing oppressive Taliban policies. We would like to emphasize on the need to stablish a structured platform under the UN-led Doha Process for regular consultation with Afghan democratic stakeholders, civil society organizations, and diaspora representatives, ensuring their participation in shaping and implementing the political roadmap.

Mr. President,

The people of Afghanistan deserve a future anchored in dignity, justice, and opportunity. By adopting this resolution, the United Nations sends a resounding message: the Afghan people are not forgotten, and their struggle is not in vain. Let us now move from words to action. Let us honor our shared responsibility to uphold universal human rights, restore Afghan sovereignty to its people, and hold those responsible for grave violations accountable.

Thank you.