Should the Taliban regime in Afghanistan be acknowledged as the official government?
In the face of the Taliban's continued rule in Afghanistan, the United Nations (UN) is adjusting its approach to engage with the government conditionally. This new strategy aims to prioritize human rights, particularly women’s rights, while maintaining humanitarian aid through international organizations to bypass Taliban direct control.
The UN's strategy hinges on several key elements. Firstly, it insists on Taliban compliance with UN Security Council resolutions mandating respect for human rights and inclusive governance as a precondition for formal political recognition or direct engagement.
Secondly, the UN is leveraging regional influence and diplomacy. It is working closely with regional countries, such as Pakistan, India, Iran, to press the Taliban politically for a serious inclusive political process that includes representation of civil society and different political groups inside and outside Afghanistan.
Thirdly, the UN is maintaining humanitarian aid delivery exclusively through UN agencies and Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs), circumventing Taliban authorities to ensure aid reaches vulnerable populations, including women, without empowering the Taliban.
Fourthly, the UN publicly condemns Taliban policies that ban women’s education and professional participation. It supports NGOs and UN programs that empower women and girls in practice, such as the recent ban on women entering medical education in December 2023.
Fifthly, the UN uses international legal mechanisms and sanctions tactically. The International Criminal Court’s (ICC) recent arrest warrants against Taliban leaders for persecution of women send a strong message that violations have consequences, potentially shaping Taliban willingness to moderate policies.
Sixthly, the UN encourages inclusive political dialogue. It supports UN frameworks that engage a broad spectrum of Afghan society, including women and minorities, to foster political solutions that respect human rights and stability.
By enforcing these conditions while continuing humanitarian support through neutral channels, the UN aims to improve the human rights situation—particularly for women—without legitimizing Taliban governance. This approach helps avoid the international community becoming mired solely in the question of recognition and allows focus on addressing Afghanistan’s broader humanitarian crises and security concerns.
The UN's new strategy comes amidst a forecasted possible famine in Afghanistan by autumn 2021, due to the economic contraction and drought. The abrupt departure of the international community caused Afghanistan's GDP to fall by 28% in one year. The Taliban's official name is the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan.
Despite the Taliban's ban on Afghan women working for the UN in Afghanistan (April 2023), no Afghan women working for the UN in Afghanistan have been dismissed as of April 2023. The Taliban government has been in power in Afghanistan since August 15, 2021, but is not recognized by many countries.
The UN takes credit for averting a grave humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan, although other factors may have contributed as well. UN agencies remained on the ground in Afghanistan after the Taliban took power, justifying their presence by the duty to assist the population. The FAO continues to implement programs for environmental preservation, reforestation, and irrigation projects in Afghanistan.
Afghanistan contributes minimally to climate change but is heavily impacted by it, with continued desertification potentially leading to waves of migration to neighboring countries. The term "development" is now prohibited in UN agency communications in Afghanistan, replaced by the term "basic needs."
The Taliban is concerned about the climate threat and could be an effective partner in climate adaptation, but they were only given observer status at COP 29. Some key states, such as China, Iran, and Russia, have engaged with the Taliban's leaders, while the Taliban lack representation in international institutions.
The plight of Afghan women, including those barred from secondary and higher education, is a major concern, but other issues such as climate change and desertification also require attention. The Taliban's Director of International Trade stated in December 2023 that the international community has never publicly acknowledged the Taliban's efforts against terrorism and opium production.
Refusing to acknowledge the Taliban government in Afghanistan does little to improve the situation on the ground and may not lead to the Taliban's collapse under international public pressure. A more transparent relationship with the Taliban could improve the UN's chances of having a positive impact on Afghanistan in the medium and long term.
The UNDP has halted all environmental programs in Afghanistan to avoid any suspicion of collusion with the Taliban. The Taliban assured the international community that foreign civilians could remain and would be protected when they took power. New recruits for UN positions in Afghanistan have been hired despite the Taliban's ban.
In conclusion, the UN's new strategy towards the Taliban government in Afghanistan prioritizes conditional engagement focused on human rights, especially women’s rights, while maintaining humanitarian aid through international organizations to bypass Taliban direct control. This approach seeks to improve conditions for Afghan women and enable broader international engagement on other critical issues.
- The UN's new strategy towards the Taliban government in Afghanistan also involves using international legal mechanisms and sanctions tactically, such as the International Criminal Court’s (ICC) recent arrest warrants against Taliban leaders for persecution of women, sending a strong message that violations have consequences.
- In an attempt to ensure humanitarian aid reaches vulnerable populations, including women, without empowering the Taliban, the UN maintains humanitarian aid delivery exclusively through UN agencies and Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs), circumventing Taliban authorities.
- The UN's approach towards Afghanistan extends beyond women's rights and humanitarian aid. It also includes supporting UN frameworks that engage a broad spectrum of Afghan society, including women and minorities, to foster political solutions that respect human rights and stability, including in climate adaptation and environmental preservation.
