Afghanistan’s representative to the United Nations Security Council has said that no lasting solution to the country’s challenges can be achieved through dialogue between the Taliban and foreign governments without the participation of the Afghan people.
The representative emphasized that Afghans must have a meaningful role in discussions and decisions concerning their country’s political future. He argued that international engagement with the Taliban alone cannot provide a sustainable solution to Afghanistan’s ongoing challenges.
“Afghanistan is more than the Taliban. Afghans must be participants in decision-making about their future, not spectators,” he said.
The remarks highlight calls for a broader Afghan-led political process involving the country’s people and different stakeholders. The issue of political participation has remained a major point of discussion in international efforts concerning Afghanistan since the Taliban returned to power in August 2021.
Afghanistan continues to face political, economic, humanitarian and security challenges, while the international community remains engaged with the Taliban on a range of issues.
The Afghan representative’s comments stress that international diplomacy should not focus solely on relations between foreign governments and the Taliban. Instead, he called for Afghan participation in determining the country’s future and finding a sustainable political settlement.
The statement adds to ongoing calls for an inclusive process in which Afghans can have a voice in decisions affecting the country’s governance, stability and long-term future.