The situation in Afghanistan - Security Council, 10223rd meeting

A very good morning. The 10,223rd meeting of the Security Council is called to order. The provisional agenda for this meeting is the situation in Afghanistan. The agenda is adopted. In accordance with rule 37 of the Council's Provisional Rules of Procedure, I invite the representatives of Afghanistan, India, Kazakhstan and the Islamic Republic of Iran to participate in this meeting. It is so decided. In accordance with rule 39 of the Council's Provisional Rules of Procedure, I invite the following briefers to participate in this meeting: Ms. Georgette Gagnon, Deputy Special Representative for Afghanistan and Officer-in-Charge of UNAMA; and Ms. Najis Nehan, Founder and Executive Director of Farajiyah. It is so decided. The Security Council will now begin its consideration of item 2 of the agenda. I wish to draw the attention of Council members to the Secretary-General's report on the situation in Afghanistan and its implications for international peace and security, document reference S/2026/724. I would like to welcome Ms. Gagnon, who is in Kabul. I give her the floor. You have the floor, Ms. Gagnon.

Mr. President, last month, the de facto authorities marked the fifth year of their return to power. They projected confidence, highlighting nationwide control, improved security, infrastructure development, and economic stabilization efforts as evidence of their success. They also launched an initiative to improve institutional openness and accountability. These developments are encouraging. They are occurring, however, in a context of no progress on issues that are of profound concern to the Afghan people and the international community. the severe restrictions on women and girls, exclusionary governance, a human rights crisis, and the continued presence of terrorist groups that threaten Afghanistan, the region, and international peace and security. In line with my last briefing to this council, we assess that the de facto authorities face no significant armed or political threat. However, key risks to the country's stability are accumulating and mainly stem from the de facto authorities' own policies. Recent events in Badakhshan province illustrate these risks. While the armed clashes, as detailed in the Secretary-General's report, did not threaten de facto authority control, they show what can happen when local communities are excluded from decision-making, resource sharing, and economic opportunity. During my recent visit to Badakhshan, people told me they seek opportunities, basic services, education, and a future for their children, not exclusion. Over the past three months, events in Herat province remained similarly concerning. UNAMA documented arrests of women and girls related to strict enforcement of the de facto authorities' dress code. Subsequent protests were met with the excessive use of force. The de facto authorities continue to carry out arrests of women, including over the past week, for alleged violation of the dress code. Across the country, UNAMA also documented mounting pressure on minority communities, media outlet closures, and arrests and intimidation of journalists. These incidents are part of the broader trend of coercive social regulation that is alienating many communities. UNAMA is engaging with the de facto authorities on these critical concerns in Kabul and through our field offices. Mr. President, this month, UNAMA released a report on the experiences of victims of Afghanistan's decades-long conflict. 95% of people we interviewed in Afghanistan reported continued psychological and emotional harm. including depression, anxiety, trauma, and flashbacks. Many are still living with disability, chronic pain, and loss of livelihoods. The findings remind us that peace is not only the absence of armed conflict. Sustainable peace requires dignity, inclusion, opportunity, and hope. Many Afghans tell us that the last five years of relative stability have provided a welcome breathing space. Yet they also tell us they are suffering under the rigid social policies of the de facto authorities and from Afghanistan's fragile economic and humanitarian situation. While Afghanistan has maintained a degree of macroeconomic stability, this does not equate to recovery. Economic growth has not kept pace with the rising population or made-up for declining aid. Per capita income has dropped by 5.6% and exports are down. Afghanistan remains heavily dependent on imports with border disruptions and wider regional instability contributing to weakened household purchasing power. Food insecurity and malnutrition present a serious concern. UNICEF reports that some 3.7 million children are suffering from deficient malnutrition, including some 1 million children experiencing severe acute malnutrition. The 2026 humanitarian needs response plan is only 30% funded. Humanitarian organizations are being forced to make hard choices on where they operate, whom they can reach, and which services they can maintain. Health facilities, nutrition centers, women's protection services, and other essential programs have closed or scaled back due to funding cuts. At the same time, Afghanistan continues to experience an extreme demographic and socioeconomic shock. This year alone, nearly 1.2 million Afghans have returned from Pakistan and Iran, with total returns reaching 6.5 million since 2023. Without sustained support, For returnees and host communities, competition over scarce resources risks fueling grievances, increasing displacement, and promoting instability. The de facto authorities ban on opium poppy cultivation has been a positive measure with huge decreases in cultivation, but risks bouncing back because of the economic pressures. Greater support for alternative livelihoods is crucial, as is sustained and principled humanitarian and development assistance for the Afghan people. Mr. President, no discussion of Afghanistan can ignore the continued exclusion of women and girls. The words of an Afghan woman we met in Kandahar represents their experience, and I quote: If we follow one rule, another one comes next. Women wearing hijab were instructed to wear a mask. Those wearing masks are told to wear a burqa. Those wearing a burqa are questioned about the absence of a mahram. And those accompanied by a mahram are questioned about the relationship with him. By denying access By denying women access to education, professions, and public life, the de facto authorities are not safeguarding Afghanistan's future. They are constraining the talent and productivity needed for post-conflict recovery. This is at odds with their stated vision of a prosperous, self-reliant, and sovereign Afghanistan that can attract international investment. This fund marks one year since restrictions preventing Afghan women from accessing UN premises, including national female UN personnel, were enforced. This is a violation of UN principles and a serious operational constraint. Humanitarian actors report difficulty reaching women and girls. Male-only delivery models cannot replace the participation of Afghan women staff and organizations cannot consult women, assess risks, or verify that assistance reaches those who need it most. Funding cuts are compounding the problem. Nearly three-quarters of Afghan women-led organizations have seen reduced funding over the past year. while more than 80% report increasing needs among women and girls. At a moment when Afghan women face unprecedented restrictions, international support mechanisms for them are decreasing. Across Afghanistan, Afghan women tell us that engagement, assistance, and support from the international community represent what they call points of hope. We urge international partners to prioritize support for Afghan women and girls. Above all, we again call on the de facto authorities to end all restrictions on women and girls. Mr. President, relations between Afghanistan and Pakistan remain another matter of serious concern. The effects of sporadic hostilities and the almost year-long border closure are taking an increasing toll on civilians, communities, and businesses. UNAMA continues to encourage de-escalation and dialogue to resolve differences, including on the presence of terrorist groups in Afghanistan, as reported by the Sanctions Monitoring Team. We welcome ongoing regional mediation efforts. Mr. President, As the High Commissioner for Refugees and the UNDP administrator cautioned during a joint visit to Afghanistan in July, developments in Afghanistan do not necessarily stay in Afghanistan. Instability, increased out-migration and displacement, radicalization, and growing insecurity have regional and international consequences. sustained international engagement, including through the Doha process, remains essential. Currently, the Doha process is the multilateral framework through which such engagement is occurring, aimed at Afghanistan's reintegration into the international community based on compliance with international obligations and commitments. This structured engagement among the de facto authorities, the international community, and a wide range of Afghan stakeholders has identified key issues and positions, expanded dialogue, and in some areas, built confidence. The main obstacle to progress is the de facto authorities' preference for bilateral approaches over multilateral engagement, which they view as undermining their claims of sovereignty. They continue, however, to participate in working groups on counter-narcotics in the private sector and engage on some key political issues. What is now needed is a clear indication from the de facto authorities of their willingness to address the wider concerns of the international community. To this end, the de facto authorities can take steps toward inclusive governance and the lifting of restrictions on women and girls and show they are meeting their counterterrorism commitments. Member States can reinforce that Afghanistan's reintegration into the international system is possible through concrete, balanced, cooperative steps that begin to address the key issues preventing reintegration. Mr. President, we remain confident in the value of principled and pragmatic engagement. It sustains dialogue, on the key issues and concerns, maintains influence, reduces risks, creates opportunities for progress, and critically, supports the needs and aspirations of the Afghan people.

Thank you.

I thank Ms. Gagnon for her briefing. Rest assured, The Council supports UNAMID's work and your own work. I now give the floor to Ms. Najis Niran.

Thank you very much. Mr. President, members of the Council, thank you for having me here today. One month ago, 15 August, marked the five years since the Taliban seized control of our country. On 15 August 2021, we did not witness only the collapse of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan. We also witness the erosion of universal values, international commitments, and most profoundly, the norms and standards for the protection of human rights and dignity of women. While the situation keeps deteriorating, Afghanistan is being allowed to slip from the international view. The voice of Afghan women have been heard, but not acted upon. The recommendations of the UN independent assessment have gone largely ignored. The call for inclusive governance have fallen on deaf ears. And the distance between what is discussed in this chamber and the reality faced by Afghans on the ground keeps growing. Mr. President, a few days ago, I spoke to my sisters in Afghanistan and asked them what message they would like me to deliver today. Let me share three quotes that remained with me. First, when I listen to statements of the international community about Afghan women, I feel as if I'm burning in pain and someone is reading a novel to help me forget my pain for a few minutes. Two, being a woman is a crime, and being born as a woman in Afghanistan is an even greater crime. Three, Is five years not enough to convince the world that the Taliban have not and will not change? Mr. President, I am sure you can feel the pain behind these words. The pain of being denied education and work. The pain of seeing your dreams crushed. And above all, the pain of being told you are nothing, time and again. In five years, the Taliban have issued scores of decrees, stripping women and girls of all our basic human rights and fundamental freedoms. Today, women are allowed to beg for a loaf of bread, but they are not allowed to work and have a dignified income. A father is not allowed to send his daughter to school, but can marry her off as young as eight years old to a man as old as 70 years old. or just sell her for $500. According to UNICEF, Afghanistan is projected to lose 25,000 female health workers by 2013, with no human resource to fill this gap. And according to UNFPA, we are again losing more than 600 mothers per 100,000 live births, mostly due to preventable and treatable disease and conditions. Today, what's happening to women and girls in Afghanistan is a political femicide and the worst form of gender apartheid. Mr. President, the crisis in Afghanistan also affect boys. Although they continue to have access to education, the content and character of education have changed significantly. Today, the number of madrassas has surpassed the number of schools in Afghanistan. Several reports produced by credible national and international organizations highlight widespread concern about changes in the attitude and behavior of boys attending madrassas. Afghanistan under Taliban rule is once again becoming a safe haven for international terrorist groups and a hub for religious madrassas, producing tens and thousands of young men at risk of radicalization. Mr. President, The rise of religious extremism in Afghanistan must concern all of us. Unfortunately, we all know too well the consequence of radicalism. The lessons of the past should not need to be repeated because we have seen what happens in Afghanistan does not stay in Afghanistan. Mr. President, Afghanistan's crisis is a profound human rights and humanitarian catastrophe. But its roots are, above all, political. What we need for Afghanistan is a political solution. Addressing women's rights cannot be separated from inclusive government and inclusive governance. We need a credible and inclusive Afghan-led political process in which women and men across ethnic and religious lines can chart a shared vision for our country. Today, Afghan political actors, civil society, and women are building a genuine unity of purpose with very little international support. The Taliban have shown no interest in a political process. But their refusal cannot become an excuse to push Afghanistan further down the international agenda. The Afghan opposition is doing its part. Bringing the Taliban to the table is a task for others. including the members of this Council. Mr. President, for five years, Afghan women have not been passive victims. We have organized, advocated, documented violations, delivered aid, supported survivors, and engaged governments, parliaments, the United Nations, and this Chamber. At the moment, we are developing our roadmap to justice and reconciliation. focusing on accountability, intra-Afghan dialogue, and a political pathway for Afghanistan, as we do not see the rights of women isolated from other issues and crises in Afghanistan. Mr. President, we are doing all this under enormous pressure, with shrinking civic space, increasing risk, and declining resources. The past five years have been highly challenging for Afghan women, but we know the journey to justice is not easy. and we remain committed even if it gets more challenging. Mr. President, according to OCHA, Afghanistan humanitarian response plan for 2026 requires approximately 1.7 billion. Yet only a small fraction of that requirement has been funded. This raises a fundamental question about the international community's response. Can we honestly say that our response has gone beyond statements and expression of concern? Mr. President, solidarity must produce action. Afghan women cannot afford another year of waiting for the world to decide what to do with Afghanistan, how to deal with the Taliban, and whether or not to support Afghan women. Mr. President, we need clarity, political will, and a pathway from commitment to action, and we need it now. I therefore put forward three concrete proposals for the Council. One, pass a resolution recognizing the institutionalized discrimination against women and girls in Afghanistan and declaring the Council's commitment to support us in our pursuit of justice and accountability. The resolution should also ask Australia, Canada, Germany, and Netherlands to speed up the case of Afghanistan to ICJ. Ask the International Criminal Court to issue more arrest warrants against the leadership of the Taliban. And ask the member states to recognize the situation in Afghanistan as gender apartheid and codify it as a crime against humanity. Two, support an inclusive Afghan political pathway for Afghanistan. The enormous strategic review offers an opportunity to advance the recommendations of the independent assessment and require the Doha process to become inclusive by engaging not only Taliban, but also all other political and civil society groups from inside Afghanistan and as well as from exile, with the end state of inclusive government and inclusive governance for Afghanistan. Three, we call on the international community to scale up humanitarian support to Afghanistan and fully fund the 1.7 billion response plan as an urgent priority. The support should be targeted those most left behind. Mr. President, The world knows what is happening in Afghanistan. The question is whether the international community is prepared to act on what it knows or not. Thank you.

I thank Ms. Nahon for her briefing. I now give the floor to Council members wishing to make a statement. I now give the floor to the representative of China.

President, I thank Deputy Special Representative Gan Yun and Ms. Nehen for their briefings. Over the past five years, with the active efforts of the Afghan government, the situation in Afghanistan has remained generally stable, with positive progress in areas such as economic reconstruction, combating narcotics, and external engagement, among others. At the same time, Afghanistan is still faced with complex challenges in the humanitarian, development, women's rights, and counterterrorism fields, among others. The international community should view the situation in Afghanistan in a comprehensive and objective manner. and take integrated measures, and play a constructive role in helping Afghanistan realize lasting peace and stability at an early date, I wish to stress a few points. First, engagement and dialogue should continue to be strengthened. All parties should cherish the outcomes of engagement and dialogue with the Afghan government, show good faith, and stay patient. And on the basis of respecting Afghanistan's national conditions and stage of development, enhance pragmatic communication with Afghanistan on issues of mutual concerns, to constantly enhance mutual trust and address differences, and help Afghanistan to gradually integrate into the international community. China supports regional platforms such as the foreign ministers' meeting among the neighboring countries of Afghanistan and the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, together with the Doha process, in forming greater synergies in stabilizing and helping Afghanistan. The Security Council should resume as soon as possible the package arrangements for travel ban exemptions of the 1988 sanctions mechanism to provide necessary facilitation for international engagement. We welcome the appointment of USG Fatima as SRSG for Afghanistan and support UNAMA in playing a better role as a bridge for communication and in fully and effectively implementing all its mandates. Second, We must support Afghanistan improving livelihoods. At present, nearly half of the Afghan population needs humanitarian assistance. One third of the people are facing acute food insecurity. And 3.7 million children under the age of five and 1.2 million pregnant and breastfeeding women are acutely malnourished. Yet only 30% of this year's humanitarian funding for the country is in place. Due to sharp declines in external aid, large numbers of assistance programs were forced to close, which, combined with other factors such as returning refugees and natural disasters, will likely make the humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan even worse. We call on all parties, in particular traditional donors, to take urgent action to promptly fill the funding gap and avoid politicizing humanitarian issues. It must be stressed that development is the fundamental path for Afghanistan to overcome the humanitarian crisis and its dependence on foreign aid. We commend the efforts of UNOPS, UNDP, UNHCR and other UN agencies, and expect the two working groups on private sector and counter-narcotics of the Doha process to achieve more practical outcomes. Relevant countries should effectively bear its historical responsibilities by immediately resuming aid to Afghanistan, lifting unilateral sanctions on the country promptly, returning the overseas assets of the Afghan Central Bank, and providing necessary resources for Afghanistan's reconstruction and development. Third, the fundamental rights and interests of the people must be safeguarded. Reports by the UN have pointed out repeatedly that the restrictive policies facing Afghan women and girls in education, employment, healthcare, and public life not only affect the physical and mental health of women, but also undermine social stability and development prospects, hindering Afghanistan from gaining greater international support. According to UNICEF, Restrictions on women's education and employment cost Afghanistan's economy at least $84 million annually. We call upon the Afghan government to prioritize the long-term development of the country and the fundamental interests of the people, effectively guarantee the fundamental rights and interests of all Afghans, including Afghan women, so that they will have an opportunity to contribute to developing and building the country. The Afghan female UN staff have played an indispensable role in humanitarian assistance and other efforts. We call upon the Afghan government to lift the restrictions on fulfilling their mandate without delay and provide due facilitation for the work of UN agencies. Fourth, terrorism must be resolutely eradicated. Terrorism is the common enemy of humanity. ISIL, al-Qaeda, ETIM and TTP, among others, are terrorist organizations listed by the Security Council. All countries have the obligation to firmly combat them, and there should be no room for ambiguity. We take note of Afghanistan's efforts to combat ISIL-K. and urge Afghanistan to demonstrate greater resolve and efforts to eradicate all terrorist forces within its borders at an early date, and to respond in a concrete manner to the common concerns of the international community. We also expect Afghanistan to engage actively in dialogue and cooperation in counterterrorism with countries in the region to constantly enhance strategic mutual trust and jointly safeguard regional security. As a friendly neighbor of Afghanistan, China stands ready to continue working with the international community in the tireless efforts in support of Afghanistan's peace, stability, development, and prosperity. I thank you, President.

I thank the representative of China for their statement, and I give the floor to the representative of the Russian Federation.

President, We'd like to thank today's briefers. We wish to welcome the appointment of Rabab Fatimi as head of UNAMA. We expect that the new head of mission will consistently assist the strengthening of trust between the Afghan authorities and the international community, as well as facilitate the provision of comprehensive assistance to the country. Therein lies the key to genuine, pragmatic engagement with Afghanistan. There is no alternative to this path, nor will there be. Russia has consistently supported UNAMIR's efforts within the limits of UNAMIR's mandate. However, we believe that all functions should be fulfilled evenly and in full. We've taken note of the SG's report about the situation in the country. We'd like to state the following: Five years ago, the two-decades-long occupation of Afghanistan came to an end following an irresponsible withdrawal of foreign forces from the country. The Taliban movement acceded to power. And every time we've met in this Chamber to discuss the situation in the country, we've heard those representing countries whose military contingents hastily left the country, we heard them saying that Afghanistan is on the cusp of collapse, it's on the cusp of becoming a black hole. Yet these gloomy forecasts, thankfully, did not come to pass. This was achieved in no small part thanks to the Taliban betting on multifaceted development of regional cooperation focused on building an independent and self-reliant state. Despite ongoing stifling sanctions, the government is working meticulously to fix the current state of affairs. Kabul stands ready to engage in constructive cooperation with any country on the basis of mutual respect and a search for common ground. Yet it's plain that the Afghans will have trouble setting off down the path of sustainable development and prosperity acting alone. Afghanistan still needs our common, unpoliticized support. President, Russia has unswervingly believed that it's important to ensure a realistic, comprehensive approach to Afghanistan. This is based on an objective analysis, a balanced assessment of the situation in Afghanistan, genuine constructive engagement by the international community on the Afghan file, fully factoring in the needs of the Afghans themselves. trust-based dialogue with the authorities covering all issues. Now, this dialogue must be fully free from the language of pressure and blackmail. Such a comprehensive approach has the support of all regional players without exception. First and foremost, the participants in the Moscow format and its regional quad, as well as the CSTO, the SCO, including the CSTO working group on Afghanistan and the SCO Afghanistan contact group. We welcome the fact that Pragmatic cooperation with the Taliban is also part and parcel of the so-called mosaic approach put forward by UNAMA, including as regards diplomatic representation, the lifting of sanctions and freezing assets, as well as the fight against the terrorist threat and the narcotic drugs threat. Timely resolving these problems without any preconditions being imposed is the direct path to international reintegration of Afghanistan. Selective and biased approaches, as well as the fixation on human rights, something that's only of interest to a group of Western donors, all of these are a dead end. We regret that not all Western donors have learned the lessons of their past mistakes. They are doggedly imposing their line on UNAMA, a line based on threats and ultimatums. given the doubts some Security Council members harbor about the future of the mission. This is a dangerous game they're playing. It could threaten the entire UN presence in the country. Plus, the Taliban itself is unlikely to be interested in the UN keeping an eye on it, so to speak, solely to serve the interests of those who intervened and then were cast out of Afghanistan in 2021. President, we are disquieted by ongoing tensions between Afghanistan and Pakistan. against the backdrop of terrorist activities by TTP. We call on friendly countries to return to the search for a solution to this problem only on a political and diplomatic track. On our side, we are always ready to provide support and assistance to our friends. We hope that mutually beneficial cooperation between the parties will resume, including on the fight against terrorism. We are still concerned by the fact terrorist groups are still present in Afghanistan, ISIL-Khorasan and the East Turkestan Islamic Movement, ETIM. Despite the authorities' efforts, it has not been possible to buck the trend completely. These groups continue to maintain their capacity, accruing resources by recruiting new members and also by securing illegal financial flows for its activities. ISIL Fighters are continuing to harbor hopes of building their own caliphate, using any opportunity to destabilize the situation in the country and in the region as a whole. We are paying particular attention to foreign terrorist fighters who have accumulated experience in Syria and Iraq. Regrettably, to this day, it's very difficult to assess the scale of these fighters' use of weapons left behind by NATO. the drug threat is inextricably linked to terrorism. We cannot but commend the Taliban's work on combating the cultivation of the opium poppy. Having said that, we should pay heightened attention to countering the production and trade of and in synthetic drugs so as to buck the incipient negative trend. In order to ensure full eradication of the drug threat, we need broad-based regional and international cooperation, including under the auspices of relevant bodies such as UNODC. We attach particular attention to the socio-economic situation country. We welcome the selfless efforts of humanitarian agencies and humanitarian personnel. They're working under difficult conditions, including conditions resulting from the consequences of the military aggression of the U.S. and Israel against the Islamic Republic of Iran. They're also facing chronic underfinancing. Despite this, they continue to provide help to those in need. We are disquieted by the food supply in Afghanistan were of the view that, under the circumstances, UNAMA should focus on its mandate, that is, amplifying steps to unfreeze assets and to assist development. We believe that Western donors trumpeting about the situation of women and girls in the country We hope that they will join efforts to support the country in creating dignified conditions for women and girls to live in a stable, prosperous state. Russia is constantly supporting the people of Afghanistan. We stand ready to broaden our partnership with Afghanistan across all areas, including on regional security. We're interested in strengthening trade and economic the trade and economic potential of Afghanistan, as well as dialogue with representatives of local business, including as part of relevant industry fora organized by Russia. We are following very closely the situation as regards human rights and fundamental freedoms in Afghanistan, including the inalienable right to education and work for all people in Afghanistan, including women and girls. And this, irrespective of their ethnicity, religion, and their sex. This is an imperative. We are tracking work on establishing a genuinely inclusive government with the participation of all ethnic and political groups in the country. We are counting on progress being made on both of the aforementioned fronts. President, the Russian Federation genuinely supports the aspirations of the Afghan people to live in a peaceful, prosperous country free from terrorism and narcotic drugs. Regional stability as a whole hinges on the situation in Afghanistan. We reiterate our calls for the UN to ensure we engage with those Afghans who directly represent the real authorities and genuinely bear responsibility for what is happening in the country. That's the only way to solve the country's problems and to genuinely reintegrate Afghanistan into the international community.

I thank you.

I thank the representative of the Russian Federation for his statement, and I give the floor now to the representative of Pakistan.

Thank you, Mr. President. I would like to thank the officer-in-charge and deputy SRSG, UNAMA, Georgette Ghanem, for her briefing, and we take note of the report of the Secretary-General. Let me also welcome the appointment of SRSG and head of UNAMA, Rabab Fatima for this important position, and we look forward to working closely with her. Let me also thank Nargis Nehan for her remarks. She rightly mentioned the world knows what's happening in Afghanistan. I must say that Madam presents a good example of how Afghan refugees including women in particular, who are in Pakistan, rose to prominent positions in many fields in their lives. President, over half a decade since the Taliban takeover, Pakistan, as the immediate neighbor, has made rigorous efforts to help ameliorate the suffering of our Afghan brothers and sisters. Pakistan engaged at high levels, facilitated humanitarian relief efforts, provided visa exceptions for vulnerable Afghans, and trade and transit incentives to boost the economy, and participated in various regional cooperation initiatives, including connectivity projects. and remained at the forefront of efforts to stabilize Afghanistan and facilitate its integration with the international community. And despite reservations with regard to certain policies of the Taliban, Pakistan abided by its international commitments to allow unhindered humanitarian aid to Afghanistan. As noted in the ESD's report, at least 687 humanitarian cargo trucks entered Afghanistan from Pakistan during the reporting period. Unfortunately, the hopes and expectations of the international community at that critical juncture five years ago did not materialize and, in fact, gradually turned into despair and disappointment. The extent of challenges in Afghanistan is evident, including from the briefing by the Deputy SRSG. And the SD's report highlights that the semblance of relative stability that the Taliban seek to display masks the accumulating risks that could impact the country's stability over the short and long term. And we agree with the assessment that the risks associated with human rights violations, lack of political inclusivity, acute economic pressure, and the increasing terrorist threat from Afghanistan are a cause of grave concern for the international community. Most indicators in Afghanistan present a declining trend. Afghanistan has once again become a safe haven for numerous terrorist groups operating with impunity from its soil. The humanitarian needs and response plan remains severely underfunded. A highly centralized system of governance is in place, devoid of political inclusivity. Human rights violations, including arbitrary killings and tightening of restrictions against women and girls, have intensified. And as we have heard, the economy remains on life support, largely from donors. President, terrorism has been at the core of Afghanistan's problems. This finds its roots in the deep nexus between the Taliban and terrorist groups, such as the TTP, the BLA, and its Mujib Brigade, ISIL-K, ETIM, and their affiliates that are operating with impunity on Afghan soil and the situation made worse by external actors, the spoilers who support proxies inside Afghanistan to target Pakistan and other neighboring countries. That is the unfortunate reality on ground and it is Pakistan that is most directly impacted, paying a heavy cost. Over the last three years alone, more than 4,700 innocent Pakistanis have lost their lives to terrorism emanating from Afghanistan. So no country would tolerate such a situation. We expected that the Taliban would take concrete and verifiable actions against those terrorist groups. Regrettably, they failed to act. in complete disregard for the legitimate security concerns of Pakistan and other countries. We hope that the Taliban will follow through on their word, honor their commitments made to the international community. The presence of advanced weapons and equipment, including drones, and huge cache of multibillion dollar worth of arms and ammunition left behind by international forces which was meant for use by the previous Afghan government, continues to pose a serious threat. We had hoped to see some analysis on INAM's efforts to prevent and address the illicit trade in and destabilizing accumulation of small arms and light weapons and their diversion in Afghanistan and the region, which is part of INAM's mandate. INAM should also report on the illicit Afghan economy that facilitates terror financing and money laundering through hundi and hawala networks. President, Taliban's refusal to publicly denounce and condemn terrorist groups is evidence enough of their complicity and active support for these groups. Pakistan cannot sit idle in the face of this terrorist onslaught. We will respond in self-defense as and when needed and in accordance with international law. We will defend ourselves against whosoever attempts to harm our citizens and our national security. President, the humanitarian, the deteriorating humanitarian human rights situation also demonstrates the Taliban's continued backtracking on their international obligations. Women and girls are denied their fundamental freedoms and basic dignity with discriminatory and abusive practices that contravene Islamic laws, traditions, and tenets of Muslim faith. From 12th to 13th July earlier this year, Pakistan hosted the 9th Ministerial Conference on Women in Islamabad, where the OIC adopted Islamabad Declaration, which expressed concern over Taliban's continued restrictions on women and girls as being inconsistent with Islamic values. For over four decades, Pakistan welcomed millions of Afghan refugees, despite insufficient international support. and also dealt with huge caseloads of illegal Afghans, including those without documentation, who pose a serious threat to our security. We continue to facilitate vulnerable Afghans numbering thousands, despite limitations. While we provide all possible facilitation, the international community must step up and shoulder its responsibility. President, we look forward to the next steps of the UN-led Doha process and action plan, the mosaic approach to address Afghanistan's multifaceted challenges comprehensively with well-defined objectives and a realistic roadmap as the only viable pathway for normalization. Pakistan and Afghanistan our immediate neighbors, having historical relations and fraternal bonds with civilizational links. And peace and stability in Afghanistan is in Pakistan's national interest. Lasting peace and prosperity would require the Taliban to demonstrate responsible behavior, to fulfill its international obligations, to be seen as a reliable partner in the region and for the wider international community. Pakistan, on its part, remains committed to working with all partners for durable peace and stability in Afghanistan and the welfare of its people. I thank you.

I thank the representative of Pakistan for his statement, and I give the floor to the representative of the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

Thank you, Mr. President. Mr. President, it's my honor to deliver this statement on behalf of the A3, namely Liberia, Somalia, and my own country, the Democratic Republic of the Congo. We thank Ms. Georgette Kanyondo, as well as Ms. Nihan, for their exhaustive briefings. The A3 congratulates Dr. Rabab Fatima on her appointment as the head of the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan. We are confident that she will successfully carry out the responsibilities entrusted to her. The A3 takes note of her commitment to engage in broad consultations with Afghan, regional and international stakeholders as well as her determination to place the promotion and protection of the rights of women and girls at the heart of her mandate. At the outset, the A3 remain concerned by the complex political, humanitarian and socio-economic challenges facing Afghanistan. The Afghan people continue to endure the consequences of economic hardship, acute poverty and limited access to essential services. The A/3 reaffirms the importance of sustained international engagement in support of the Afghan people. In this regard, we would like to highlight the following points. First, the A/3 reiterates its strong support for the continued work of UNAMA. We underline the critical role played by UNAMA as a key platform for international engagement, political dialogue, human rights monitoring, and the coordination of humanitarian and development efforts in Afghanistan. With this in mind, we emphasize the importance of ensuring that the mission is able to operate in conditions that allow it to effectively carry out its mandate, including through safe and unhindered access for United Nations personnel and partners, free from interference. Second, the A3 expresses deep concern over the worsening humanitarian situation in Afghanistan, as the cumulative effects of declining international assistance, large-scale returns of displaced populations, and natural disasters, including recent flash floods, continue to exert immense pressure on Afghan communities. We are gravely alarmed by the sharp deterioration in food security, with 13.8 million people projected to face acute food insecurity and nearly 4.9 million children and mothers suffering from acute malnutrition. The arrival of nearly 1.15 million returnees so far in 2026 places severe pressure on local absorption capacities, while the 2026 humanitarian needs and response plan remains critically underfunded at only 29.9%. The A3 commends the persistent efforts of the UN and international partners who are working under extremely challenging conditions and urges donors to act swiftly in order to close the funding gaps. The humanitarian challenges facing Afghanistan are not isolated. They reflect broader realities affecting millions of people across the world. The A3 therefore reiterates that civilian protection, humanitarian access, and international solidarity must remain universal principles applied consistently and without distinction. Third, the A3 recognizes that the full participation of women and girls is the cornerstone for Afghanistan's successful reintegration into the international community. We emphasize that ensuring access to education, employment, fundamental freedoms, and meaningful participation in society will unlock the nation's full potential and uphold the dignity of its people. We are also concerned by ongoing restrictions preventing United Nations Afghan women personnel from accessing United Nations premises and carrying out life-saving operations. In that regard, we echo the calls of the international community and call on the authorities to permit United Nations national female personnel and national female personnel to return to their places of work. Fourth, the A3 remains concerned by the continued threats posed by terrorist groups operating within Afghanistan and reaffirms that its territory should not be used as a platform for terrorist activities that jeopardize the security and safety of neighboring states and pose threats to international peace and security. Furthermore, we urge countries of the region to intensify support for efforts to address and counter threats from terrorist organisations operating in Afghan territory. In this regard, we underline the importance of the Security Council sanctions regime concerning Afghanistan and reiterate our support for the work of the 1988 Sanctions Committee. Fifth, the A/3 reiterates that Engagement between the international community and Afghanistan is crucial for Afghanistan's sustainable peace, stability and social and economic development. We welcome the structured engagement through the Doha process, including the working groups on the private sector and counter-narcotics, and note the Secretary-General's call on all members of the Doha process and on the Afghan authorities to further engage in the proposed comprehensive approach as envisaged by Security Council resolution 2721 towards the objective of achieving an Afghanistan that is fully reintegrated into the international community. To conclude, Mr. President, the A3 reiterates its strong commitment to the sovereignty, independence, territorial integrity and national unity of Afghanistan. We stress the importance of a coordinated and integrated approach among political, humanitarian and development actors in order to better address the multiple challenges facing the Afghan people. We reaffirm our steadfast solidarity with the people of Afghanistan and our commitment to help them in their pursuit of lasting peace, security, stability and sustainable development. Thank you.

I thank the representative of the Democratic Republic of the Congo for your statement on behalf of the A3. And I now give the floor to the representative of Latvia.

Thank you, President.

And I also let me thank the deputies RSG for Afghanistan, Ms. Roger Gagnon, for her comprehensive briefing. And I would also like to thank Ms. Narges Nehan for bringing the voices of Afghan women to this meeting and for her continued strength and resilience in the fight for the rights of women and girls in Afghanistan. Mr. President, I would like to raise three points. First, five years have passed since the Taliban returned to power. Education, employment, health care, and public life have been closed off to half of the population. While ethnic and religious communities have been targeted, peaceful protests are suppressed, women arrested for noncompliance with dress code requirements in Herat, and journalists detained. For Afghan women and girls, these five years have meant being denied any chance to shape their own lives and their own futures. and this cannot become normalized. Girls who were only newborns in August 2021 are now five years old. The longer these restrictions continue, the greater the risk they will grow up believing that a life without even the most basic human rights is the only fate available to them. As a woman from Nangarhar told UN Women, "Even if I have hopes or dreams, I know I will not be able to achieve them because it is not what is expected of women." We must not accept a reality in which women and girls are taught to abandon their hopes before they have had the chance to pursue them. Latvia continues to call on the Taliban to reverse these policies and on the international community to remain principled, treating the human rights of Afghans, particularly of women and girls, as a matter of priority. Second, UNAMA remains essential to the Afghan people. We affirm the need for its continued presence and welcome the appointment of Ms. Rebat Fatima as the SRS Chief for Afghanistan and Head of Mission. Her leadership will be critical to advancing the humanitarian, human rights, and the political tracks in Afghanistan, including an inclusive Doha process. And we continue to urge the Taliban to engage meaningfully with UNAMA. and demand that they cease obstructing the UN's ability to fulfill its mandate. A whole year has passed since Afghan female staff have been denied entry to UN premises, despite the mission's sustained efforts to find a practical way forward. This is totally unacceptable. The Taliban must end this ban without further delay. Third, the Taliban must uphold their commitment to counterterrorism. The presence of numerous terrorist groups and foreign terrorist fighters demonstrates that Afghanistan under the Taliban rule can once again turn into a safe haven for terrorism, serving as a training ground for extremism and posing threat to the entire region. Terrorist activity, including the recent attack on a school in Kabul, is just one grave example. Mr. President, after five years, the international community's message has not changed. respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms, inclusive governance, and a real commitment to combating terrorism. If we allow these principles and responsibilities to be disregarded in one place, it could become a precedent elsewhere. And other speakers said, what happens in Afghanistan does not stay in Afghanistan. We cannot allow fundamental rights to be eroded and ultimately forgotten. But we will continue to stand up for the rights and dignity of the Afghan people, especially women and girls. Thank you.

I thank the representative of Latvia for their statement. I now give the floor to the representative of the United States.

Thank you, Mr. President. Thank you to the briefers. I'll start my remarks with something that should not surprise anyone, that the United States will not tolerate. the Taliban taking American citizens hostage, period. Nor will we be intimidated or coerced by a Taliban regime that cruelly uses American citizens as bargaining chips or some kind of leverage in its ill-fated pursuit of international legitimacy. In March, in fact, Secretary of State Rubio designated Afghanistan under the Taliban regime as a state sponsor of wrongful detention as it kidnaps citizens of not just Americans, but of dozens of nationalities every day for ransom and political concessions. And this should surprise no one who has had to personally deal with the Taliban as I have. I've seen them hang children, terrorize families, pillage whole villages. and prey on the very people they claim to represent. In fact, after the fall of Kabul, I met with an Afghan interpreter who had finally escaped after he had been beaten night after night trying to get through Taliban checkpoints before getting on a flight out. And this interpreter who was a former teacher finally arrived here, the Taliban called him on his phone. He actually called him from his 10 year old nephew's phone. And their message was disgusting. It was sadistic, sadly predictable. They essentially told him, come back and submit himself to Taliban justice or the 10 year old boy would pay the price. And colleagues, this is how the Taliban operates. We should be clear-eyed as a council on who we're dealing with. And when it wants leverage, it reaches for innocent people. So today, we call on the members of the council to condemn the Taliban for their unjust detention of U.S. citizens and other citizens, demand their release. We should also condemn the Taliban's sheltering, as many of you have said today, of terrorist groups. and the utter destruction of their once great country under their cruelty. And don't take my word for it. The Secretary General reported this year that human rights violations remain widespread, extrajudicial killings, arbitrary arrest, torture, ill treatment. And as many of us have referenced, the ban on girls' education beyond sixth grade has now entered its fifth year, in fact, before this body two years ago, the actress Meryl Streep now infamously remarked that a female cat in Kabul has more rights than an Afghan woman. A female cat can sit on the front porch, can see the sunlight, can walk to a public park where Afghan girls and women are now banned. UNESCO estimates that 2.2 million Afghan girls are now shut out of education. Afghanistan is the only country in the world where girls and women are barred from secondary and higher education, and it is so heartbreaking. After 20 years, an entire generation of Afghan women got a taste of freedom and a better life that is now, that door is now closed. on them. UNAMA itself has documented in report after report thousands of cases of arbitrary arrest and detention, torture, ill treatment, forced disappearance, extrajudicial killings under Taliban rule. And three months ago, UNAMA documented 30 women arrested in Herat. Why? Because of dress code violations. When Afghans stood up bravely and protested those arrests, UNAMA also reported that Taliban security forces killed young women and boys who were standing up for their classmates. And if you thought it couldn't get worse, the Taliban does not even allow Afghan women to work for the United Nations to enter United Nations compounds. That restriction has now been in place for a full year. The Secretary General has stated, and of course we agree, that it is a violation of international law, including the UN Charter, and it's obstructing lifesaving assistance to Afghanistan. And it's a critical impediment, obviously, to Afghanistan's reintegration into the international community colleagues, let's just think about that contradiction. The Taliban wants a seat at the international table. They want a seat here. Yet they're barring women from walking through the front door of the United Nations in their own country. Again, yet they want a seat here. So this council has spoken. Resolution 2822 said the erosion of the rights of women and girls and minorities is so severe that their absence makes peace, stability, and prosperity unattainable. That same resolution extended UNAMA through June of 2027, streamlining and focusing its work. The United States welcomes that reform and expects UNAMA to demonstrate measurable value, particularly as it remains the most expensive political mission. We also welcome the Secretary General's appointment in July of Rabab Fatima. I've had the pleasure of meeting with her and wish her luck and health as she takes on this difficult task as a special representative. We look forward to her early engagement with this Council, with colleagues. There is a larger question here. How many UN reports documenting abuse How many council resolutions demanding change, how many years of engagement can we pass before we see measurable results? We will be watching closely for evidence that the revised mandate and new leadership are translating into a leaner, more accountable mission and focusing on the work that matters most. The same applies for the UN-led Doha process. The comprehensive approach can provide a path forward, but only if the Taliban engages seriously and meets its commitments. Colleagues, this council must demand results from the Taliban regime. We need to see actions, not words, and that will determine whether Afghanistan moves forward towards peace and legitimacy and the Afghan people. Many soldiers from many of our countries for many years and civilians as well, fought so valiantly so that they could have a better future. And I certainly agree with the notion of what happens in Afghanistan does not stay in Afghanistan. Thank you, colleagues.

I thank the representative of the United States for their statement. I now give the floor to the representative of Denmark.

Thank you. Thank you, Mr. President. Let me also thank Deputy SRS Deganjo and Mrs. Nihan for their important briefings. We meet at a critical moment for Afghanistan. Last month marked five years since the Taliban seized power. And just days ago, we marked 25 years since the terrorist attacks of September 11. But both occasions carry important lessons for this Council. They remind us why Afghanistan remains a matter of which this Council is seized. and why sustained international attention remains essential. I will focus on three points. First, across Afghanistan, human rights and fundamental freedoms remain severely restricted. Civic space continues to shrink, while journalists, civil society and human rights defenders face growing pressure. For women and girls, the situation is particularly grave. The Taliban pursues a deliberate policy of gender-based segregation, thus systematically excluding women and girls from public life and imposing sweeping restrictions on virtually every aspect of their lives, from education and employment to freedom of movement and participation in society. These restrictions are reinforced by an increasingly repressive and institutional framework which further deny women and girls access to justice, protection and essential services. The dire consequences of the Taliban's systematic discrimination and repression are not only devastating for the lives, the dignity and opportunities of Afghan women and girls. They also undermine Afghanistan's social and economic development, stability and prospects for lasting peace and international reintegration. The international community has been clear in its response. In a joint statement delivered by Denmark last month on behalf of 57 countries, we called for an end to the systematic discrimination of women and girls, and for the rights and dignity of all Afghans to be upheld. And we reiterate these calls firmly today. Second, Mr. President, the ability of the United Nations and humanitarian actors to operate effectively and without undue hindrances must always be safeguarded. As we have heard, September marks one year since Afghan female UN personnel were prevented from accessing UN premises across the country. This is completely unacceptable. It is contrary to international law, and it directly undermines the ability of the UN to fulfill its mandate. This is particularly concerning amid a continuous and severe humanitarian crisis, fuelled by exclusion, by discrimination, and by a basic lack of respect for human rights. Nearly 22 million Afghans require humanitarian assistance. Meanwhile, large-scale returns from neighboring countries are placing further pressure on already vulnerable communities, where needs by far outstrip available resources. The full participation of Afghan women is critical to an effective and principled humanitarian response. We call on the Taliban to urgently reverse all restrictions on UN and humanitarian personnel, and to allow them to carry out their work safely and without discrimination or interference. Mr. President, thirdly, Afghanistan continues to face significant security threats, including from terrorist groups operating from within its territory. The continued presence and activity of terrorist groups, such as TTP, al-Qaeda, and ISIL-K, remain a serious concern for Afghanistan its neighbors, and international peace and security. As we recently commemorated the victims of September 11, we recall that Afghanistan must never again become a safe haven for terrorism. We call on the Taliban to take concrete, sustained, and verifiable action against all terrorist groups operating in or from Afghanistan. In closing, Mr. President, International engagement must remain principled and focused on tangible outcomes for the Afghan people. The Doha process has an important role to play. But progress towards greater international integration must go hand in hand with significant improvements on human rights, on inclusive governments, counter-terrorism, and Afghanistan's international obligations. UNAMA remains an indispensable part of this effort. And Denmark warmly welcomes the newly appointed SIsd, Mrs. Rabab Fatima. We look forward to working closely with her as she takes forward this important mandate. Thank you.

I thank the representative of Denmark for their statement.

I now give the floor to the representative of Colombia.

Thank you, Mr. President. Colombia remains extremely concerned by terrorist activities taking place within Afghanistan, particularly given that they are connected to drug trafficking and the humanitarian situation. Having said that, resolution, this is expressly prohibited by resolution 2293. Now in English.

Mistake to legitimate the Taliban. This is not a question of universality of human rights. This is a question of respect of this council, of the United Nations system and the most basic principles that allow us to develop human life. Beyond the terms of the Taliban state, the human rights violations, and one could see plenty of treaties from the Convention against Torture, I want to call special attention to the finding of UNAMA and salute, naturally, the work of Ms. Denise Cagnon in relation to the trauma, the community that the people in Afghanistan, the civil population is ongoing for several years now, but also the major concern to the return of the most hideous human rights violation, including naturally the ban for education for women, as it has been pointed out, more than 2.2 billion women at this day. Education, Mr. President, is not just freedom, it's development. Allowing education for women is also -- it does open routes for peace. And this is why we are here in this table, to secure peace and progress around the world. We also hear here the importance to have terrorism as a center or common ground for humanity in our concern that we believe is shared by many.

Mr. President, Colombia aligns itself with the request for language that allows us to move forward as a Security Council on a possible condemnation of the Taliban state, not only due to the institutional and non-institutional exclusion of women and millions of girls, which is a generational problem. It's a problem of peace, freedom, human rights, and is a fundamentally security problem also, but also the systematic persecution of women. in this country. In addition to this, we most strongly condemn, in the strongest possible terms, the use of civilians, foreign nationals, in order to advance the legitimacy aspirations of an ideology that has given the world one of the gravest terrorist acts in our history. We must not ever forget or allow this. Now, the important thing is to ensure that the Taliban forces, the Taliban state, comply with Security Council mandates and that we strictly supervise the fact that they respect the terms and accountability for human rights violations being committed in.

Afghanistan.

We are concerned about how prohibitions are affecting UN Afghan female personnel and humanitarian workers. and also the increasingly restricted civic space and how it's affecting UNAMA's ability to work more broadly with Afghan society and to be able to deliver humanitarian aid, including a large number, the large number of people returning to Afghanistan, despite the geopolitical circumstances and the violence occurring. Between April and June alone, there were more than 170 incidents reported of prohibition of humanitarian aid. Human rights violations and international humanitarian law in Afghanistan are cross-cutting, and they are not just circumstantial, they are generational. And with this vision, the Council must act and, naturally, support the work of UNAMA. Colombia launches an appeal to guarantee swift, safe, sustainable and unhindered humanitarian access in line with international law, and so that humanitarian personnel, including the women that are engaging in this work, are able to provide assistance and essential services that are required by the civilian population. Finally, for Colombia, It is necessary to reaffirm our commitment and hopefully the commitment of the Security Council also to solidarity with the Afghan people and the civilian population. We reiterate our support to UNAMA and we hope that the strategic review that's being carried out will contribute to strengthen the coordination of UN activities in Afghanistan. And once again, we condemn the holding hostage of foreign nationals from the United States or any other country, as well as humanitarian personnel and, naturally, UN personnel. We express our profound concern over the discourse of the Taliban seeking legitimacy and preventing even girls and women from being educated and participating in the activities that the UN is offering on the ground. The only possible legitimacy that they can achieve is by respecting the peace process and respecting the UN's mandate and this Security Council. Thank you, Mr. President.

I thank the representative of Colombia for their statement. I now give the floor to the representative of Bahrain.

Thank you, Mr. President. At the outset, I'd like to thank Madame Georgette Gagnon the deputy SRSG in Afghanistan, and Ms. Narjis Nihan, the representative of civil society, for their briefings. We would also like to congratulate Ms. Rabab Fatima on her appointment as the SRSG for Afghanistan and the head of UNAMA. We wish her success, and we affirm that the Kingdom of Bahrain supports the mission's work. Mr. President, in light of the continued challenges that are facing Afghanistan over five years since the de facto authorities took over control of the country, the Kingdom of Bahrain reaffirms the importance of moving from managing the status quo to making available the necessary conditions to make steady and gradual progress towards reintegrating Afghanistan in international community. This requires making tangible progress by the authorities in Afghanistan and responding to the legitimate concerns of the the international community and fulfilling Afghanistan's international commitments. This will be met by a continued constructive engagement by the international community and support for the Afghan people. And here, I would like to affirm three important and interrelated points. First, a year after a ban was imposed that prevented female Afghan UN staff members from entering UN buildings in Afghanistan, This ban continues to directly affect the ability of the United Nations and its partners to perform their duties, especially in accessing women and girls. And here, we condemn these continued restrictions, and we call upon the de facto authorities to lift this ban and to guarantee the ability of female Afghan employees to perform their tasks safely and with no impediment. We also reaffirmed the importance of allowing women and girls to exercise their right to education, employment, and participation in public life, considering their participation important and vital for the future of Afghanistan, its development, and its stability. Second, we confirmed that development, peace, and stability are interrelated and mutually reinforcing tracks. And in light of the pressures that are humanitarian and economic, and the mass influx of returnees, it is important to give support to livelihoods and to enhance the resilience of the Afghan economy. Here, we welcome the positive steps that have been achieved in the Doha process, including through the two working groups on private sector support and counter-narcotics. We stressed the need to take advantage and build on this progress and to continue a practical and gradual interaction that would enhance trust and would lay the groundwork for dealing with bigger issues. Third, and from a security perspective, achieving sustainable peace and stability require the effective dealing with terrorist threats, and the activities of terrorist parties in Afghanistan is a source of extreme concern, and we stressed the need that for Afghan territory not to be allowed to become safe havens or a source to threaten any other country, with the importance of enhancing regional and international cooperation in this track. In closing, we stress our support to achieving an Afghanistan that is stable, safe, and prosperous, and to continue our positive engagement in a manner that would support the Afghan people and would allow for positive and gradual progress. I thank you.

I thank the representative of the Kingdom of Bahrain for that statement. I now give the floor to the representative of the United Kingdom.

Thank you, President. I thank Deputy Special Representative Gagnon and Najeh Snehan for their briefings. Let me begin by expressing our deep appreciation to UNAMA for its vital work. We welcome the appointment of Special Representative Reba Fatima and reaffirm our strong commitment to UNAMA's success. Today, I want to highlight three points. First, the UK strongly condemns the Taliban's systematic discrimination against women and girls. No country can prosper while half its population is excluded from public life. The Taliban must respect the fundamental rights and freedoms of all Afghans in accordance with international law. Last week marked one year since the Taliban barred Afghan women working for the United Nations from accessing UN premises. We pay tribute to UN staff across Afghanistan for their dedication and professionalism, and I pay testament to the extraordinary resilience of the women of Afghanistan. We call on the Taliban to lift this unacceptable restriction, which continues to hamper the delivery of essential assistance to the Afghan people. Second, stability in Afghanistan cannot be separated from stability in the wider region. We reiterate our call for de-escalation and renewed dialogue between Afghanistan and Pakistan, and we urge all parties to avoid actions that risk further instability, and call for meaningful action against terrorist groups operating in and out of Afghanistan, along with protection of civilians. Third, Afghanistan faces a worsening humanitarian situation. Large-scale returns, extreme weather, and reductions in international system are placing communities under increasing strain. By excluding women and girls from public life, the Taliban are worsening these pressures and undermining Afghanistan's long-term prosperity. The UK remains steadfast in its commitments to the Afghan people. and continue to provide more than $140 million annually over the next three years in support of essential lifesaving assistance for those most in need. Last year, UK-funded programs reached at least 5 million people, including more than 3 million women and girls. And we remain committed to ensuring that women and girls make up at least half those reached through UK assistance. The international community has been clear about what is required. We again call on the Taliban to engage constructively in the UN-led political process and with the wider international community. Our objective remains an Afghanistan that is stable and prosperous, at peace with its neighbors, and respectful of the rights of all of its peoples. Thank you.

I thank the representative of the United Kingdom. I now give the floor to the representative of Panama.

Thank you, Mr.

President. We thank Ms. Georgette Gagnon, Officer in Charge of the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan, and Ms. Nargis Nahand. Thank you both for your important briefings. Five years since the Taliban returned to power, 2.4 million girls remain excluded from secondary education. One in three Afghans, that is 13.8 million people, face food insecurity, while 3.7 million girls under the age of five and 1.2 million pregnant and breastfeeding women face acute malnutrition. The recent detention of women in Herat for supposed violations of the dress code shows that these restrictions remain coupled with coercive measures. Ms. Gagnon was very eloquent in her description of the escalation of these restrictions. The decree adopted in May on the legal separation between married couples strengthens the authority of male guardians over marriage and implicitly permits child marriage. The healthcare system that is already extremely fragile continues to lose capacity. Approximately 150 health centres were closed or suspended their operations between January and June due to a lack of funding. In addition to this, there is a contradiction that is difficult to justify. For more than a year, Afghan women who work for the United Nations remain prevented from accessing their workplaces. Part of the personnel whose job it is to contribute to the international response, remain hostage in their own homes. Behind these figures are decisions, and behind these decisions there are responsibilities and consequences. What we are seeing, therefore, are not isolated occurrences, but rather a systematic exclusion of women, which weakens the capacity of society to respond to crises. While humanitarian needs persist, the humanitarian response plan for 2026 is only funded to the tune of 29.9%. Nevertheless, Mr. President, the international community has not abandoned Afghanistan. In June, this Council renewed for one year the mandate of UNAMA. preserving its essential functions and requesting a strategic review. In parallel, both the Council as well as UNAMA have kept communication channels open with Afghan civil society and with humanitarian organizations who continue to work in extraordinarily difficult conditions. These exchanges have also allowed us to shed light on the important contribution of Afghan women to their communities and to the economy of the country as entrepreneurs, business owners, workers, rights defenders, and peace builders. Their economic, social, and political participation must not only be protected, but also recognized as an essential part of the future of Afghanistan. The Doha process maintains dialogue open and has achieved concrete results in areas such as the private sector and the fight against narcotics, and these need to be underscored. In this regard, for Panama, it's essential to keep these channels of dialogue open with the de facto authorities. Experience shows that the challenges that Afghanistan faces require sustained dialogue, trust, confidence and spaces where gradual progress can be made, that enable cooperation and support to be brought about. And that's why we continue to support interactions that are based on principles and focused on concrete results for the Afghan population. Particularly relevant is the Islamabad Declaration adopted in July by the Organization for Islamic Cooperation, whose member states stated the restrictions imposed by the Taliban were incompatible with Islamic values and called for eliminating barriers to education, as well as the work and public participation of women and girls. The OIC, furthermore, is one of the multiple channels for communication that remain open. There are still also serious concerns over the presence and activity of terrorist groups in Afghanistan, including ISIL-K and Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan, the TTP, and that's why the decisive action of the authorities is required in order to achieve control over this. Panama reiterates that Afghan territory must not be used to threaten the peace and security of any other state. Mr. President, today more than ever, it is the role of the de facto authorities to demonstrate the political commitment required in order to address the grave situation that this country faces. None of this is incompatible with the identity, culture, or religion of Afghanistan. It's necessary for the Afghan authorities to assume the responsibilities that are inherent to participation in the international community. For five years, the international community has kept the doors open to dialogue. It is now for the de facto authorities to show through actions their willingness to move towards these doors. The people of Afghanistan deserve to participate fully in the political, economic and social life of their country and to live in conditions of dignity, security, with their fundamental rights respected. Thank you very much.

Thank you for that statement. I now give the floor to Greece.

President, I would like to thank Deputy Special Representative Georgette Gagnon and Ms. Nargis Nehan for their remarks. Mr. President, Last month marked five years since the fall of Kabul and the return of the Taliban to power. What has the international community witnessed in the years since? The human rights of the Afghan people are being systematically violated, most notably through the law on the propagation of virtue and prevention of vice. Women's and minority rights are completely disregarded, with women and girls excluded from public life and denied access to education and employment. The so-called Penal Code and the Code on Judicial Separation of Spouses have further exacerbated restrictions on women's rights, effectively legitimizing domestic violence and child marriage. On the security front, the Taliban have shown a persistent unwillingness to dismantle terrorist organizations operating within their territory. In view of the above, I would like to make the following three points. First, we reiterate our call on the Taliban to respect and protect the human rights and fundamental freedoms of the Afghan people and to lift all restrictions and oppressive measures against women and girls. Repressals against human rights defenders are deplorable. We condemn arrests and arbitrary detentions, including the incidents in Herat against women protesters in June. We also stress the importance of freedom of expression and pluralistic media, and call for the reversal of all relevant restrictions. Second, the Taliban's relationship with the international community and the United Nations continues to deteriorate significantly. For a year now, Afghan women UN employees have not been allowed to enter their offices, with catastrophic repercussions for the delivery of life-saving assistance to those in need. We call for unhindered access for all United Nations personnel to their places of work. Even more concerning was the arrest and detention by the Taliban of two Afghan staff members of UNAMA last August, without formal charges. While these employees have since been released, we call for such incidents not to be repeated and for full respect for the privileges and immunities of the United Nations. In this regard, we welcome the appointment of the new SRS-G for Afghanistan, Ms. Rabab Fatima, and believe that it sends a powerful message to the Taliban regarding the necessity of sustained engagement with the international community and with senior women officials. We reiterate our support for UNAMA and its comprehensive approach, as well as for the Doha process, and we hope that renewed impetus will generate tangible progress. Third, we reiterate the urgency of combating terrorism in Afghanistan, including terrorist activities directed against neighboring countries. The reduction in cross-border clashes is both welcome and necessary for the protection of civilians and the unhindered delivery of humanitarian assistance. The Taliban must ensure that the territory of Afghanistan does not serve as a safe haven for terrorist groups and must step up the fight against all such groups operating inside the country. Mr. President. Taking stock of five years of Taliban rule, the regression is undeniable. The Afghan people cannot afford to lose any more time. The Taliban must engage meaningfully with all relevant stakeholders to facilitate the reintegration of Afghanistan into the international community in full conformity with international obligations regarding human rights, inclusive governance, and counterterrorism.

I thank you.

I thank the representative of Greece for that statement. I will now deliver a statement in my capacity as the representative of France. I'd like to thank Ms. Georgette Gagnon, first and foremost, the AI representative of the Secretary General, as well as Ms. Nargis Nehan, the founder and executive director of Faragir. They painted a distressing picture of the situation in Afghanistan for us today. In five years, the Taliban transformed Afghanistan into a segregated country. It erected barriers to Afghanistan's development. Restoring the rights of Afghan women is a human, a political, a legal, and a moral obligation, but not only. It is also an essential factor if we are to see an Afghanistan that's internally peaceful, stable, and prosperous. Restrictions on the rights of women and girls are an insurmountable barrier to the country's development. Prohibiting women from studying, from working, deprives the Afghan economy from half of its workers. This policy is particularly disastrous given that the economy's recovery requires us to place priority attention on those who are de facto leading the country. These restrictions also have negative security consequences. They create a fertile ground for radicalization and terrorism, and this in a region where the threat posed by Daesh, Khorasan, Al-Qaeda, and TPP looms large. We call on the Taliban to take the necessary measures to address the situation. Barriers to Women's health care access have serious public health consequences. They push up infant mortality, reduce the life expectancy of Afghan women, and do damage to their mental health. Large scale restrictions on the rights of half of the population go hand in hand with the exceptional levels of repression hitting half of the population. Ever since the Doha process was launched, the Doha process on the future of Afghanistan, France has been participating in this process and we reiterate. that the objective of this process, as the Council said, is a stable and peaceful Afghanistan, an Afghanistan which can meet the needs of its population. Now, this objective cannot be reached without women, nor without inclusive political dialogue involving all of the parties involved, including political opponents, civil society, and minorities. And, it goes without saying, women as well. The Council has issued clear demands of the Taliban ever since Resolution 2593 was adopted in 2021. It called on the Taliban to allow safe and unfettered humanitarian access, guarantee inclusive governance, to combat terrorism, to combat drug trafficking, and to respect fundamental rights, in particular those of women. The international community has given the Taliban a seat at the negotiating table in Doha. The international community listened to the Taliban's requests. It's now up to them to listen to ours. It's up to them to lift the obstacles they themselves placed on the path to Afghanistan's development, as well as obstacles to Afghanistan's reintegration in the international community. Last but not least, France welcomes the appointment of the new SRSG, Ms. Rabab Fatima. We reiterate our support to UNAMA and other agencies present on the ground. France calls on the Taliban to cease hindering these agencies' activities at a time when roughly half of Afghanistan's population is in critical need of humanitarian assistance. The ban on female Afghan employees accessing UN premises, which has lasted for over a year, is unacceptable. This Council must ensure that the missions it mandates are in a position to fulfil their functions in full respect with the UN Charter. By way of conclusion, I'd like to say that France remains mobilised in support of Afghanistan. For decades, we've constantly, we've never stopped, in fact, providing humanitarian assistance. according to the principle of for and by women, and working to ensure respect for fundamental rights. The fight against impunity, against rights violations, is a priority for France. This is why we supported the Human Rights Council setting up an international mechanism to document the most serious crimes being committed in Afghanistan. France will continue to stand in solidarity with Afghans, men and women alike. We'll continue to stand shoulder to shoulder with them. I now resume my function as President of the Council, I now give the floor to the representative of Afghanistan.

Mr. President, congratulations on assuming the presidency and thank you for convening today's meeting. We also wish to thank you, thank France and other signatories for their strong statement this morning in support and solidarity with Afghan women and girls, as well as we extend our appreciation to the previous presidency of the Council under Danish mission for the strong statement issued on the fifth anniversary of illegitimate rule of Taliban last month for the supporting Afghan people. I also would like to express our thanks and appreciation to DS/RS/G Georgette Gagnon for her comprehensive briefing and UNAMOS continued work under difficult circumstances. And our warm congratulations to the appointment of Special Representative Rabab Fatima. And also we would like to thank Ms. Nargis Nahon for her touching and insightful briefing. As we just marked the 25th anniversary of the terrorist attacks of 11 September 2001, we honour the memory of all those who lost their precious lives, as well as the Afghans and international partners who made the ultimate sacrifice in the fight against terrorism. Last month also marked five years since the Taliban seized power by force, long enough to judge the situation by actions and outcomes, not promises. Despite sustained international and UN engagement, Afghanistan's humanitarian, human rights, political and security crisis continue to deepen. The Council has taken important steps. Resolution 2615/2021 established a humanitarian exemption. Resolution 2679/23 mandated an independent assessment for a more coherent international approach. And resolution 2721/23 called for a UN special envoy to advance its recommendations, including a political process. Yet, the Taliban have continued to disregard the legitimate demands of Afghan people and repeated calls of the international community. Nationwide armed conflict has declined, but the absence of a large-scale war should not be mistaken for sustainable peace. Armed opposition has become increasingly visible in several parts of Afghanistan, particularly in the northern and northeastern provinces, including Badakhshan. It is also important to note that current Afghan armed opposition groups, unlike Taliban, have generally not resorted to suicide attacks or indiscriminate IED targeting civilians. The Secretary-General's report makes clear that beneath apparent stability, serious risks continue to accumulate. Mr. President, five issues require particular attention. First, Afghanistan faces a profound crisis of political legitimacy and governance. Five years on, there is still no inclusive political system, no accepted constitutional framework, and no accountable institution through which Afghans can influence decisions affecting their lives. Political parties remain banned, political figures face restrictions, including house arrest, and meaningful political dialogue continues to be rejected. Power remains highly centralized. Even those often described as moderate or dissatisfied Taliban figures in Kabul have been unable or unwilling to meaningfully challenge policies imposed by the leadership. Control of territory is not political legitimacy. Legitimacy cannot be built through force, discrimination and exclusion. Nor should claims of improved governance obscure credible reports of bribery, extortion, abuse of authority and interference in humanitarian assistance in the absence of independent oversight. Second, the systematic exclusion of women and girls remains the clearest evidence of the Taliban's violation of their commitments and of our collective failure. UNESCO estimates that 2.4 million Afghan girls remain excluded from secondary education. Afghanistan remains the only country in the world where women and girls are formally denied education beyond the primary level. Women continue to face severe restrictions on employment, movement, and participation in public life. Afghan women work for the United Nations remain barred from UN premises, while restrictions on female humanitarian workers undermine assistance delivery. The Taliban have also expanded religious madrassas as an alternative to formal education, raising concerns among Afghans about radicalization and extremism. This is not only women's rights crisis, it is a national crisis affecting Afghanistan's economy, health, education, development, and long-term stability. No political process can claim legitimacy while women are excluded from decisions about their country's future. We urge all member states, particularly countries of the Islamic world, to remain clear and united. The denial of the fundamental rights of Afghan women and girls cannot be justified in the name of religion, tradition, or culture, as the Taliban have sought to do. Engagement must never become acceptance of institutionalized discrimination. Third, the broader human rights situation remains deeply troubling. Between May and July alone, UNAMA documented 12 killings, 13 arbitrary arrests and detentions, and the three cases of torture or ill treatment involving former officials and former security personnel, despite the proclaimed general amnesty. Journalists continue to face detention, media outlets are suspended or censored, corporal punishment is carried out, and civic space remains severely restricted. We are also deeply concerned by increasing pressure on Hazara and Shia communities, including the detention of religious and community figures, interference with religious observances, discrimination, and the appropriation of land and property. Reports of targeted killings and reprisals continue. In recent days, a former judge was reportedly shot dead in Kabul, two former security personnel were reportedly tortured and beheaded in Takhar, and other killings were reported in Kabul, Uruzgan, and Herat. Every such case requires a credible and independent investigation. The Taliban cannot credibly claim to provide security while people can be killed, detained, tortured, or disappeared without accountability. Fourth, terrorism remains a serious threat to Afghanistan, the region, and beyond. The Secretary-General notes continuing concern over terrorist groups operating from Afghanistan, while the Security Council's monitoring team has reported the presence of more than 20 terrorist groups. Taliban assurances that Afghan territory will not be used or threaten other countries must therefore be judged by measurable and verifiable action, not statements. Afghanistan must never again become a safe haven, recruitment center, or operational base for international terrorism. At the same time, legitimate counterterrorism concerns cannot justify military actions that kill Afghan civilians or violate Afghanistan's territorial integrity. Such concerns can only be addressed sustainably through legitimate, accountable, and effective governance. Afghanistan must not become a battlefield for the security disputes of others. Fifth, the humanitarian and economic crisis remains severe. 23 million people need humanitarian assistance, and 13.8 million face acute food insecurity, while the 2026 humanitarian response plan is only 30% funded. Nearly 1.15 million Afghans returned between January and August this year, many involuntarily, following approximately 3 million returns in 2025 into communities already struggling with unemployment, food insecurity, and weak services. We call on all states to respect non-refoulement. Returns must be voluntary, safe, and dignified, with special protection for women at risk, human rights defenders, journalists, former officials, and former security personnel. We also appeal to donors, do not abandon the Afghan people because of the policies of those who rule them. Humanitarian assistance must continue, but it cannot permanently substitute for functioning economy, legitimate institutions, and responsible governance. Mr. President, five years of experience also requires an honest assessment of international policy. Isolation alone has not produced change, neither has engagement without clear political objectives. This false choice between isolation and normalization must end. What is needed is principled, coordinated and outcome-oriented engagement with a clear political destination, legitimate, representative and accountable governance through a genuine intra-Afghan political process. This Council has repeatedly supported such an approach, We believe time has come to implement the recommendations of the independent assessment, including the appointment of a UN special envoy, and we hope the ongoing strategic review will strengthen UNAMOS political role. But no durable outcome can emerge from engagement between the Taliban and foreign governments alone. Afghanistan is broader than the Taliban. We therefore reiterate our call for a genuinely Afghan-led and Afghan-owned political process, facilitated by the United Nations and supported by regional and international partners, meaningfully including Afghan women, civil society, political and democratic forces, youth, ethnic and religious communities, and other credible Afghan stakeholders. Afghanistan must be Afghans must be participants, not spectators, in decisions about their future. Last month, our mission conducted voluntary and anonymous consultations with Afghans inside the country and abroad. Among respondents inside Afghanistan, 86% said that their lives had deteriorated over the past five years. 76% identified legitimate, inclusive, and accountable governance as a priority. 71% called for the UN support for an inclusive political process, and nearly two-thirds emphasized meaningful Afghan participation in national dialogue. Their message is clear. Afghans want rights, representation, accountable institutions, education, and opportunity, and above all, a meaningful role in determining how their country is governed. Mr. President, we welcome We welcome the renewal of UNAMIR's mandate and look forward to the strategic review. Its humanitarian and human rights roles are essential, but so is its political role. UNAMIR should help create the conditions for a political solution. I therefore urge the Council and the broader international community to maintain five priorities: a cohesive international approach; protection of the rights and meaningful participation of women and girls, support for a genuine Afghan-led political process, sustained attention to terrorism, human rights, and accountability, and continued humanitarian assistance and protection for vulnerable Afghans. Afghanistan must not be abandoned to an indefinite status quo, not only because of what is at stake for the Afghan people, but also because of the implications for international peace and security. Afghans are not asking the international community to choose their leaders. They are asking for the right to choose their own future. Thank you, Madam President.

I thank the representative of Afghanistan for their statement. I now give the floor to the representative of the Islamic Republic of Iran.

In the name of God, the most compassionate, the most merciful. Thank you, Madam President, for convening this important meeting. At the outset, we congratulate Ms. Rabab Fatima on her appointment as the Special Representative of the Secretary-General and head of UNAMA. and we share every success in discharging this important responsibility. We look forward to further constructive and close cooperation with her. UNAMA plays a vital and indispensable role in assisting the Afghan people, facilitating dialogue, coordinating international assistance, and promoting a coherent and coordinated international approach to Afghanistan. We thank the Secretariat and UNAMA for their continued efforts to support the people of Afghanistan. We thank the briefers for their insightful briefings. We take note of the Secretary-General's latest report, which notes some economic stabilization and efforts by the de facto authorities to maintain governance and economic activities. At the same time, the report indicates that Afghanistan continues to face serious challenges, including acute humanitarian and economic needs, restrictions affecting women and girls, and the persistent threat of terrorism. Against this backdrop, I would like to make the following points. First, five years after the de facto authorities assumed power, The significant reduction in armed conflict and violence across much of Afghanistan and the relative improvement in the security situation are important gains. That must be preserved. However, the terrorist threat remains. ISIL-K and other extremist groups operating in Afghanistan and the region continue to pose a serious threat to Afghanistan and neighboring countries. Addressing this threat requires sustained and strengthened regional cooperation. The Afghan authorities have a responsibility to prevent their territory from being used to plan or carry out terrorist acts against neighboring countries. while the international community and countries of the region should support Afghanistan in strengthening its counterterrorism capacities. Second, the significant reduction in opium cultivation is also an important achievement with positive global implications. However, as highlighted in the report, the economic impact on rural communities remain severe. Sustained investment in alternative livelihoods, rural development, and market access is therefore essential to ensure that these gains are durable. Third, the humanitarian and economic situation remains deeply concerning. Declining external assistance, financial and banking constraints, Limited investment and return of Afghan nationals have placed additional pressure on the country's economy and public services. As noted in the report, the 2026 Humanitarian Needs and Response Plan remains severely underfunded, with only 29.9% funded. Humanitarian assistance must therefore be provided on the basis of need and without politicization. Access to food, medicines, health care, and other necessities must not be affected by political considerations. Practical arrangements should also be pursued to facilitate Afghanistan's access to its financial resources and assets. so that these resources can support the Afghan people and essential economic and public services. In the meantime, sustainable recovery requires greater focus on trade, investment, employment, and economic infrastructure. Fourth, as a neighboring country, the Islamic Republic of Iran closely follows developments in Afghanistan. Our long-standing historical, cultural, and human ties, and the direct implications for regional peace and stability, underscore the importance of sustained engagement and cooperation. Iran has consistently pursued a practical and neighborly approach. Despite decades of sanctions and economic pressures, And having recently suffered from the U.S. act of aggression and maritime blockade, Iran has hosted millions of Afghan nationals and provided them with access to education, healthcare, and employment opportunities. Iran has also continued to expand economic cooperation with Afghanistan in trade, transit, energy, railway, and agriculture. The further development of trade and transit, including through the capacities of the port of Chabahar and facilitation for Afghan traders, can provide Afghanistan with greater access to regional and international markets. Fifth, continued international engagement with the de facto authorities remains indispensable to advancing stability and addressing Afghanistan's challenges. constructive and principled engagement is also the most effective means of encouraging progress in the protection of human rights, including the rights of women and girls and members of ethnic and religious communities. The Secretary General's report underscores the importance of a comprehensive approach based on principled and pragmatic engagement. Constructive dialogue remains essential to addressing humanitarian, economic, counter-narcotics, and governance-related challenges. Finally, the Islamic Republic of Iran reiterates its support for continued dialogue and cooperation among Afghanistan, the countries of the region, and the international community. and stands ready to further contribute to regional and bilateral efforts in supporting Afghanistan's stability and sustainable development. I thank you, Mr. President.

I thank the representative of the Islamic Republic of Iran for his statement, and I give the floor to the representative of Kazakhstan.

Mr. President, I congratulate France on assuming the presidency of the Council and wish every success during this very busy month. I thank Ms. Rogette Ganon and Nargis Neham for their valuable insights. We also welcome the appointment of Ms. Rabab Fatima as Special Representative of the Secretary-General and head of UNAMA, and look forward to working closely with her as she assumes her duties. Kazakhstan strongly supports UNAMA's central role and the UN-led Doha process. Five years after the Taliban's return to power, we believe that principled and pragmatic engagement with the de facto authorities remains the most viable path forward. Engagement should not be equated with recognition, but isolation cannot offer a sustainable solution either. We listened very attentively all the statements and deeply share expressed concerns in the present situation. But the question is what we can do with it. Our immediate priority must remain the well-being of the Afghan people. Most recently, in June, KazAid, together with relevant government agencies, delivered nearly 319 tons of humanitarian assistance to Afghanistan, accompanied by a medical mission of Kazakh doctors providing direct care and professional training. We are also investing in longer-term food security and livelihoods through the Islamic Organization for Food Security, headquartered in Astana, Kazakhstan and its partners recently supported 400 Afghan farmers in Balkh and Jowjan provinces with improved seeds, fertilizers, and climate-smart agricultural training, contributing to sustainable livelihoods and alternatives to illicit cultivation. Mr. President, humanitarian assistance, while indispensable, cannot provide long-term solution. The next phase of international engagement should gradually move from managing humanitarian dependency towards enabling economic self-reliance. The scale of the challenge is clear. UNDP estimates that three in four Afghans remain unable to meet their basic needs, while economic growth remains insufficient to improve living standards. According to UNDP and UNHCR, more than 6 million Afghans have returned since 2023, placing immense additional pressure on jobs, services, and host communities. This reinforces the need to create jobs, strengthen the private sector, restore functioning financial channels, and expand trade and investment. Kazakhstan is putting this approach into practice. In June 2026, a high-level Kazakh delegation visited Afghanistan, where the annual Kazakh-Afghanistan Business Forum brought together more than 50 Kazakh companies. During the visit, Kazakhstan opened its second trade house in Afghanistan, this time in Kabul, following the establishment of the first one in Herat in 2024. We therefore attach particular importance to Afghanistan's integration into regional economic networks connecting Central Asia, Afghanistan, and South Asia. This year, we hosted the Regional Contact Group of Central Asian countries on Afghanistan in Astana, as well as a meeting of special representatives of Central Asia and the European Union in Almaty, with a strong focus on regional connectivity and economic cooperation. The UN Regional Centre for SDGs for Central Asia and Afghanistan in Almaty provides an important new instrument to advance this agenda. We look forward to close cooperation between the Centre and the UNAMA on sustainable development, connectivity, and capacity building. At the same time, there cannot be sustainable recovery without the meaningful participation of Afghan women and girls. Kazakhstan remains concerned by restrictions of their education and employment. Our longstanding educational programs for Afghan youth, including women, reflect our conviction that investing in human capital is essential for Afghanistan's future. We also remain vigilant regarding terrorism and narcotics, and believe that progress in countering the threats must be reinforced through sustainable economic alternatives. Kazakhstan will remain a reliable partner of UNAMA and the Afghan people in building a peaceful, stable, inclusive, and economically self-reliant Afghanistan, increasingly connected to the wider region. I thank you.

I thank the representative of Kazakhstan for his statements. I give the floor to the representative of India.

Mr. President, I congratulate France on taking over the presidency of the Council for this month, and thank you for giving me the floor. I thank Ms. Georgia Gagnon, Head of Mission, Deputy SRSG Political for Afghanistan, for briefing this meeting. We also note the briefings by civil society. As contiguous neighbors, the relationship between Indians and Afghans is older than modern maps and boundaries. The roads from Kabul to the plains of Hindustan were not only trade routes, but also corridors of ideas and knowledge, of belief and faith. Over the centuries, empires have risen and receded across these lands, but the thread of friendship and kinship between the Afghan and the Indian has not been broken. It is this spirit that guides my country's policy towards this nation. We stand in favor of peace, stability, and prosperity that could aid sustainable development of Afghanistan, as evidenced by our participation in the Doha Working Group meetings, our strong bilateral development partnership, and our efforts in regional initiatives. Mr. President, I reiterate Prime Minister Narendra Modi's strong belief that India's shared aspiration for a peaceful and secure Eurasia is also closely linked to peace and stability in Afghanistan. Through more than 500 development partnership projects in all 34 provinces of Afghanistan, India has been contributing to its development. Our commitment to providing humanitarian assistance to the people of Afghanistan will continue. We are working with UN agencies as well as others, such as the Afghan Red Crescent Society, to deliver aid to those who need it the most in Afghanistan. Visits of Afghan ministers to India over the last few months have enabled bilateral consultations to discuss cooperation and humanitarian assistance, development projects, healthcare, food security, capacity building, counter-narcotics, sports, education, trade, travel, and connectivity for the welfare and development needs of more than 48 million Afghan people who endure pressing deprivation and suffering, as also hostility and profound neglect of the international community over the last five years. The UN Secretary-General's report identifies the crisis of Afghanistan's weak public health system that has seen the closure of 150 health facilities in the first half of this year. We cannot look away from this dire situation and must invest in preventing a humanitarian catastrophe in Afghanistan. In addition to the 33 tons of vaccines and related material that we supplied for supporting the child immunization program in the last quarter, in this reporting period, India has gifted specialized medical equipment, including neonatal and pediatric care devices, cardiograph machines, ventilators, patient monitors, electrocautery equipment, plastic surgery sets, and specialized medical kits to Afghan health authorities. This was also supplemented by another 17 tons of essential medicines and medical consumables that have reached Kabul to augment the healthcare services. India continues to support development projects in Afghanistan, particularly in the healthcare sector, including the construction of maternity clinics with a view to strengthening medical infrastructure and improving access to essential healthcare services for the Afghan people. We are also discussing pharmaceutical trade availability of quality and affordable medicines, drug regulation, quality standards, and regulatory cooperation with Afghan agencies. In the area of agriculture, we are discussing agricultural research, quality seeds, irrigation, horticulture, livestock, food processing, and capacity building. Let us recognize, Mr. President, what the World Drug Report 2026 of the UN Office on Drugs and Crime states. Opium poppy cultivation and production in Afghanistan has remained at historically low levels since Afghan authorities banned narcotics in 2022. We believe that forging closer cooperation with agricultural research institutes will aid the Afghan authorities in their commitment to move Afghans away from cultivation of crops that had been aiding the global drug syndicates and help in the global counter-narcotics effort. In partnership with the UN Office on Drugs and Crime, India has provided 68 tons of medical supplies and 34 tons of social support items for the rehabilitation of drug addicts. We urge member states to support this effort. Mr. President, since August 2021, my country has supplied more than 50,000 tons of wheat, over 450 tons of medicines and vaccines, as well as 40,000 liters of pesticides to Afghanistan. We have provided humanitarian assistance and critical care items in the face of disasters such as earthquakes. However, we realize that moving towards economic self-dependence is extremely important for our Afghan brothers and sisters. We have been having discussions on enhancing bilateral trade, facilitating Afghan exports to India and strengthening B2B linkages. India has emerged as a major destination for Afghan exports. and we remain committed to further increasing bilateral trade in support of Afghanistan's economic development. In this regard, India continues to provide tariff-free access to Afghan goods, facilitate trade through the dedicated India-Afghanistan air freight corridor, and issue gratis long-term business visas to Afghan traders. We strongly condemn the trade and transit terror inflicted on Afghanistan in violation of UN declarations on landlocked developing countries, the WTO norms, provisions of the UN Charter and international law, and the tenets of basic human compassion. We also reiterate our deep concern at the humanitarian plight of the Afghan returnees. The Secretary-General's report mentions that in 2025, 2.9 million Afghans were returned, and until 22nd August of this year, another 1.15 million Afghans were returned, most of which were involuntary. A forcible return of this nature that is neither safe nor dignified of over 3 million individuals in any other part of the world would have elicited a political outcry in this Council, urgent provision of large-scale humanitarian support, and efforts to ensure better reintegration and assimilation. That there is no such reaction is a sad reflection on the times. We reaffirm that returns must be voluntary, they must be safe, and they must be dignified. and reintegration should receive sustained international support. To this end, India is cooperating with the UN agencies and the Afghan authorities to make provisions for housing, for food, and other essential items to ease the immense pain and hardship the returnees are suffering. To support the shelter and rehabilitation needs of Afghan returnees, India, in July 2026, gifted family tents to the Afghan Ministry of Refugees and Repatriation. In the field of education, our scholarship and fellowship schemes for Afghan students have great uptake. Since 2023, more than 3,000 students have got these opportunities, including 1,000 Afghan women. Another 1,000 scholarships are being offered in the current academic year to Afghan students to pursue bachelor's and master's degree courses in Indian universities. India also continues to provide financial and logistical support to Afghan self-help groups led by women. We reiterate our position that human rights cannot be advanced in isolation from security, development, and economic opportunity. Progress of Afghan society requires principled, practical, and sustained engagement. India supports provision of greater opportunities to all Afghans in all spheres of human endeavor, including for Afghan women. Mr. President, last week we honored the memory of those taken mercilessly away by the scourge of terrorism 25 years ago in this very city. Earlier this month, the Council members visited the site of this horrible tragedy. May the memory of these victims always remain a motivation to not only fight against all such individuals who are the worst of humanity, but also those who aid, abet, finance, and support these crimes. The international community supported the global campaign to counter terrorism in the wake of 9/11. Let us not forget, however, that al-Qaeda's terror ecosystem established its strategic depth beyond Afghanistan through its affiliates. The leaders of Al-Qaeda who conceived and directed these 9/11 attacks did not escape justice in the wilderness of some ungoverned frontier. Osama bin Laden, who ordered and financed the plot, was tracked down and killed in a fortified compound within a settled, guarded community under Operation Neptune Spear. Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, the principal architect of the operation, was found sheltering in an ordinary residential house. Ramzi bin al-Shibh, who coordinated the hijacker cell after being denied a visa to join them, was sheltering in an urban center. Senior al-Qaeda operative Walid bin Attash, who helped select and prepare several hijackers, was likewise captured separately. Mustafa Ahmad al-Hawsawi, a key financial and logistical facilitator of the 9/11 operation, was captured under similar circumstances. In each case, these were not fugitives hiding in caves or badlands. They were men who had for long evaded detection. Draining this swamp that provided an enabling environment for such monsters of humankind to prosper is very important. The same permissive environment that sheltered the architects of 9/11 has in the years since continued to provide space, support, and impunity to affiliates of Al-Qaeda, such as Lashkar-e-Taiba and Jaish-e-Mohammed, and their like, acquiring different identities to escape this Council sanctions framework and whose leadership and terror training infrastructure have been shielded from consequence. The international community must join hands to address the continuity of such sanctuary in order to ensure that more such individuals are not thrust upon any country or its citizens, and no one loses family and loved ones. India underscores the continued relevance, Mr. President, of UNAMA's mandate and reaffirms its unwavering support to the mission at this critical juncture as it works to advance peace and stability in Afghanistan. We convey our warm wishes to its incoming head, Ambassador Rabab Fatima, as she prepares to assume this important responsibility. Mr. President, once again, we reemphasize the importance of incentivizing positive actions. We cannot firewall 48 million people suffering deprivation and immense hardship out of our collective conscience and expect that there will be no consequences. There is a lot of misery in this world, but the case of Afghanistan is especially dire. And we must recognize its new reality and change our collective approach, much like we have done in other similar situations. The UN and international community must widen its policy toolkit to include positive inducements and nudges as well, so that one day, a young Afghan girl or a boy can also proudly say that the world helped them when it was needed. Afghanistan is also the world's collective responsibility, and this council has an important role to play in discharging it. A beginning can be made with the Council addressing issues that are under its direct mandate. I thank you, Mr. President.

I thank the representative of India for his statement. There are no more names inscribed on the list of speakers. I now invite Council members to informal consultations to continue our discussion on the subject. The meeting is adjourned.