The United Nations and the Taliban challenge
Victor Ângelo
António
Guterres has just underlined the gravity of the humanitarian situation in
Afghanistan. He reminds us that about half of the population needs food aid in
order to survive and that basic social support, particularly in the area of
health, is closed or on the verge of collapse. With the onset of the harsh
winter weather, the crisis will become even more serious and the capacity to
act will diminish. He therefore announces that as early as next week the UN
system will launch an urgent humanitarian appeal.
It
is not possible to predict what response he will get. A good deal will depend
on the kind of access the Taliban will allow, both to UN officials and NGOs.
There is still no certainty in this regard, including the participation of
women in humanitarian operations. The security of the implementing agents and
their ability to act independently are also crucial. These are fundamental
questions, which the Secretary-General will have to resolve before launching
the appeal. It is not enough to make a general statement about these
requirements. Concrete commitments are needed from those in power in
Afghanistan. This means that it is urgent to initiate direct contacts between
the United Nations at the highest level and the political leadership of the
Taliban.
The
humanitarian agenda is a good gateway to broader talks. It is true that one
should not mix the humanitarian field, which has the sole and primary purpose
of saving lives, with political matters. Aid that alleviates human suffering,
prevents the physical and mental stunting of children, and keeps people alive
is a duty of the international community, regardless of governance systems and
ideological choices. But it can enable the opening of a path of rapprochement
and political dialogue.
Guterres
should take the initiative and seek to open a negotiation with the Taliban
power that considers what the United Nations expects in terms of respect for
international norms, human rights, and the commitments that bind Afghanistan to
the community of nations. No matter how much we talk about national sovereignty
and non-interference in the internal affairs of each country, and even
accepting that relations between states are primarily based on these
principles, today's times do not allow one to remain indifferent when there are
violations of people's fundamental rights and situations that could pose a
danger to the peace and security of the region and other parts of the
globe.
There
are many points where the untangling of the skein can begin. One of them is the
protection of the nearly 3,000 UN national staff from possible reprisals.
Another concerns the future of the UN Assistance Mission on the ground, UNAMA.
The mandate of this mission expires on September 15. What kind of configuration
will be possible after that date? The Taliban may be ready to accept the
presence of the more technical or directly humanitarian assistance-related UN
agencies. What about the rest, the other UN agencies? That must be negotiated.
Another matter that should be looked at is the representation of the country at
the next UN General Assembly, which starts on September 14. The Taliban, given
the way they came to power, will be excluded from participating, as has already
happened in the past, at the end of the 1990s and until 2001. But this
exclusion may be a matter to be put on the table for discussion.
The
essential is to take the initiative, get the ball in the UN’s hands and put it
back into play. The UN is, above all, a political organization. It cannot be
governed solely with a humanitarian or development agenda. It is true that it
must provide a comprehensive and coherent response that includes these
dimensions. But the driving force must be political. And the new Taliban
challenge offers the UN the opportunity to reconnect with its history and
remake its image as a key player in international relations.
(Automatic translation of the opinion piece I published in the Diário de
Notícias, the old and prestigious Lisbon newspaper. Edition dated 3 September
2021)
