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8354th Security Council Meeting: Situation in Afghanistan
Amid the recent rise in civilian casualties inside Afghanistan, decisions made now ahead of elections in October will have far‑reaching implications for the country’s future and play a key role in advancing the peace process, the senior United Nations official in that country told the Security Council today.
Tadamichi Yamamoto, Special Representative of the Secretary‑General and Head of the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA), said that, although election preparations are on schedule, security is a great concern. Presenting the Secretary‑General’s latest report on the situation in Afghanistan and its implications for international peace and security (document S/2018/824), he said political challenges could jeopardize tight timelines and derail the elections unless all political leaders engage constructively and peacefully to ensure that voting timelines are met.
Strategic decisions, underpinned by a national consensus, must be taken to guide the next steps towards peace, he continued. Despite challenges, conditions for commencing a peace process that will lead to talks for a negotiated end to the conflict are better today than at any time in the last 17 years, he said, emphasizing that, with the most difficult phases still to come, all sides should agree on concrete measures to build confidence for more structured talks with the Taliban.
However, Ramiz Bakhtiar, a youth representative, said young Afghans barely remember the Taliban, let alone the preceding regime, and are poised to take the country towards a brighter horizon. Two thirds of the country’s population is under 25 years of age, he said, stressing that his generation belongs to a new Afghanistan. “We want peace more than anyone else,” he said, noting that young people have driven many successes since 2001, with media being one shining example. “We are not a failed nation, we are a resilient nation that is tested and challenged the way very few other nations have ever been,” he pointed out. “Our ambition is to make our country a hub for regional connectivity and a land of opportunities.”
Afghanistan’s representative said national unity and political stability are the best guarantees of long‑term stability. Afghanistan must work on all outstanding issues relating to the upcoming elections and towards national objectives in a spirit of unity and understanding. Indeed, despite the difficult security environment, Government efforts are already solidifying gains in governance and development. Emphasizing that regional and international support are vital for the peace process, he said Afghanistan welcomes all coordinated efforts leading to direct talks with the Taliban and that can generate results. At a time when Afghanistan and the international community are at a crossroads in their strategic journey for peace and stability in the country and global security, “let us complete this vital journey with greater resolve and commitment”.
Council members condemned the recent attacks, emphasizing their support for the peace process and reforms. Many speakers urged the Government of Afghanistan to ensure free, fair and inclusive elections, including those from Bolivia and the Netherlands, who underlined the importance of ensuring the active involvement of women and young people. Meanwhile, Ethiopia’s delegate and others noted the proposal by the President of Afghanistan for negotiations with the Taliban. The representative of the United States and others commended UNAMA’s support for the Government’s efforts to advance peace.
Speakers also called for enhanced support to help Afghanistan deal with the humanitarian consequences of the drought and to assist Afghan refugees and the host countries helping them.
Also delivering statements today were representatives of the United Kingdom, Russian Federation, Equatorial Guinea, Peru, Kazakhstan, France, China, Poland, Kuwait, Côte d’Ivoire, Sweden, Turkey, Pakistan, Canada, India, Belgium, Italy, Uzbekistan, Germany, Australia and Iran, as well as the European Union.
The meeting began at 3:07 p.m. and ended at 6:09 p.m.
