The United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) has adopted a resolution reaffirming its continued support for human rights, counterterrorism efforts, and adherence to international law in Afghanistan.
In a statement, UNGA said the resolution titled “The situation in Afghanistan” was adopted on Monday by a recorded vote of 116 in favour and two against (the United States and Israel) with 12 abstentions, sustaining global attention to the country.
While the resolution reflects sustained global attention on Afghanistan, it has drawn mixed reactions from member states, with some calling the text imbalanced and urging pragmatic engagement with the Taliban government.
By its terms, the assembly pledged its continued support to the Afghan people in their efforts to rebuild a stable, secure and economically self-sufficient State free of terrorism, illicit narcotics, transnational organized crime and corruption.
It also expressed support for their efforts to strengthen the foundations of a constitutional and inclusive government.
The assembly voiced concerns over Afghan women’s rights, urging Afghanistan to uphold international obligations, particularly regarding human rights, refugees, and humanitarian law.
Mixed international reactions
The draft also met with opposition and reservations from several Member States, including the Russian Federation, whose representative requested a vote on the draft.
“What we are witnessing here is a hypocritical shifting of responsibility,” she said. What is ignored is the issue of swiftly unfreezing Afghanistan’s assets, which are needed for the economic recovery of the country — to build roads, schools and hospitals, and the issue of lifting unprecedented unilateral sanctions. “Because of the biased position favouring one group of countries and open disregard for proposals supported by regional States […] we ended up with an imbalanced document,” she said.
India’s delegate said no new policy instruments have been introduced to address the worsening humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan since August 2021.
Iran’s delegate said that Tehran’s core concerns were not “adequately reflected” in the final text, emphasizing that Afghanistan’s future must be defined by its own people, in an Afghan-led and Afghan-owned process.
China’s delegate called on donors to restore humanitarian aid, warning against politicization. “The countries concerned should immediately lift the illegal unilateral sanctions against Afghanistan, unconditionally unfreeze and return its overseas assets and create conditions for Afghanistan to rebuild its financial system, develop its economy and people’s livelihoods,” he stated.
The United States, one of two countries to vote against the resolution, said: “Four years after the Taliban’s takeover, we’re still having the same conversations with the same people — without results.” The US representative argued that the Taliban have been rewarded with increased engagement and resources despite failing to deliver.
“There is no alternative to engagement with the caretaker government in Kabul,” said Germany’s delegate, introducing the draft.
Noting her country’s active contribution to the UN-led Doha Process, she stressed that Berlin remains open for further pragmatic forms of cooperation with the de facto authorities, including on the safe return of Afghan refugees.
Underscoring that the edicts imposed by the caretaker government against women and girls amount to “a near-total erasure of their rights”, she stated: “To the Afghan mother, holding her sick and underfed child: we see you. […] And to the millions of Afghan women and girls locked up at home: we have not forgotten you.” She then urged support for these messages and for the draft resolution.
The European Union called the resolution a step toward a sustainable future for Afghanistan, emphasizing the UN-led Doha process as the only multilateral framework for a political solution.
As Afghanistan’s close neighbour, Uzbekistan remains deeply concerned by the ongoing humanitarian crisis, natural disasters and economic challenges the country faces, said the country’s delegate. “Further isolation of Afghanistan must not be allowed, as the fate of millions of people is at stake,” he stressed, advocating for open, pragmatic dialogue with Kabul and urging the Afghan authorities to uphold human rights, education access and safety for international organizations.
Qatar’s delegate spotlighted his country’s role through the Doha Peace Process, facilitating dialogues that culminated in the 2020 peace agreement between the United States and the caretaker government. These efforts have evolved into the UN-led Doha Process, which Qatar continues to host, providing a neutral platform for international engagement with Afghanistan.
“Afghan people [must] remain at the heart of our collective response,” said Algeria’s delegate, warning that — without a viable prospect for employment and sustainable livelihoods — individuals may feel compelled to turn to terrorist organizations as a means of survival.
Pakistan’s representative appreciated the acknowledgment of his country’s role in hosting Afghan refugees, stating that his delegation supported the draft resolution. However, he noted the text’s failure to include several aspects that were critical to reflecting the ground realities in Afghanistan, including not acknowledging the Taliban as “de facto authorities”.
The representative of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) observed that divergent views on how to engage in Afghanistan have led to “a patchwork of humanitarian assistance”. “Many of the children receiving vaccines had never seen a health worker before,” he said, warning that funding is decreasing significantly across the board. “Let us not look away from Afghanistan,” he stated, citing today’s resolution as “a starting place”.
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