Helping Afghanistan: The Hindu Editorial on the UN Mission in Afghanistan

United Nations Security Council decision To authorize a new mandate for the organization in Afghanistan The move is the most vigorous step taken by the world body to tackle the myriad problems the country is facing since the takeover of the Taliban. In accordance with the UNSC resolution, which was adopted by a vote of 14–0, with the exclusion of Russia, the United Nations Mission in Afghanistan is authorized to promote gender equality, the empowerment of women and girls, human rights, and an inclusive and representative government. Is. There is no direct reference to the Taliban, but it urges the mission to act “in close consultation with all relevant political actors and stakeholders…”. Rights of Afghans In the 1990s, the Taliban barred girls and women from education and work and adopted a hostile attitude towards ethnic and religious minorities. The Sunni hardline group formed a men-only, Pashtun-dominated government that only reluctantly allowed girls to attend primary schools; Older girls are still denied education. And except in some areas such as health care and education, a large number of working women in Afghanistan are not allowed to go to their workplaces.

But the Taliban’s fundamentalism and their lack of legitimacy should not deter the international community from working to ease the suffering of the Afghan people. The country is going through one of its worst humanitarian crises. Before the Taliban takeover, two-thirds of the Afghan government’s spending came through donations. Since no country has recognized the Taliban as the legitimate rulers of Afghanistan, these donations have dried up since August. The US decision to freeze $9 billion in assets of Afghanistan’s central bank has deepened the crisis. Government employees have also not been paid salaries for months. According to the World Food Program, only 2% of Afghanistan’s 38 million people have enough food. Its economy is expected to contract by 30% this year and almost every Afghan citizen could live in poverty by the middle of 2022, according to the United Nations. The international community is reluctant to act out of fear that the Taliban will use the aid to consolidate its power and resist further demands for reforms. But the international community just can’t look away when Afghans face mass starvation. With the new mandate, which was supported by almost all the major powers, the UN mission should start involving the Taliban. This does not mean that member states should immediately recognize the Taliban regime. They should offer humanitarian aid to Afghans in consultation with the mullahs, as well as pressure them to accept at least short-term reforms and take measures to respect basic human rights.