Irawani read a statement ahead of a United Nations Security Council briefing on the “Situation in Afghanistan” in New York on Wednesday.
The statement is as follows:
I thank Mozambique for hosting this meeting. We welcome the presence of Ms. Roza Otunbayeva, Special Representative of the Secretary-General, at this meeting and appreciate her updated and insightful briefing.
Since August 2021, Afghanistan is grappling with multiple challenges.
Despite UN efforts to ease the humanitarian crisis, the situation remains dire, with an estimated 28 million people in need of humanitarian and security assistance in 2023. In addition, the presence of Daesh and al-Qaeda affiliates poses a threat of terrorism.
Meanwhile, the recent restrictions and prohibitions preventing Afghan women and girls from accessing education are deeply worrying.
However, we must be wary of politicizing or exploiting humanitarian aid for political purposes. Such practices harm the Afghan people who depend on this aid for their survival.
It is also important that the release of the frozen assets of the Afghan people is expedited and not subject to political circumstances. This is critical to restoring the Afghan economy and saving lives.
To ensure that the Afghan people get the support they need, humanitarian assistance must be fair and unconditional. We must prioritize the well-being of the Afghan people above all else.
As a neighbor of Afghanistan, we are deeply concerned about the potentially disastrous consequences of the ongoing situation in Afghanistan. The presence of organizations affiliated with Daesh and al-Qaeda, as well as drug cultivation and trafficking, pose a significant threat to the security of Afghanistan, its neighboring countries, and the region as a whole.
If not addressed effectively, the situation has the potential for widespread destruction and massive influx of migrants to neighboring countries that are already burdened with hosting millions of displaced Afghans.
We strongly support the extension of the UNAMA mandate. UNAMA has a vital role in promoting peace and stability in Afghanistan and it is essential that its mandate is extended to ensure continued support for the Afghan people during this challenging time.
Iran hosts over five million Afghans, making it one of the largest host countries. Despite receiving minimal support from the international community and donor countries and facing challenges caused by inhumane unilateral sanctions from the United States and Western countries, Iran has managed to provide essential services to Afghans living in Iran for more than four decades. has continued.
Iran has provided free education and training to all Afghan students living in Iran. The Iranian education system has welcomed 670,000 Afghan students, including 3,700 students with special education and mental disabilities, and more than 33,000 students enrolled in Iranian universities.
Iran has taken further steps to support Afghan women and girls affected by the recent sanctions imposed by the Taliban. Iran has streamlined the visa process for women and girls wishing to continue their education within Iran.
Since the Taliban took control of Afghanistan in August 2021, the Islamic Republic of Iran has taken a clear, consistent and unambiguous position. It has repeatedly urged the de facto authorities in Afghanistan to establish an inclusive government that represents all Afghan ethnic, religious, linguistic and political groups.
Iran reiterates that recognition of the current de facto authorities is dependent on their compliance with their obligations, including the establishment of an inclusive and truly representative government.
This position has not changed and remains valid, and we remain committed to upholding our principles. However, we recognize the importance of ensuring that our position does not negatively impact the lives and livelihoods of our Afghan brothers and
We are committed to working closely with all of Afghanistan’s neighboring countries and other relevant partners to support the Afghan people during this challenging time. Recently Afghanistan’s neighboring countries together with Russia held the first meeting of their Special Representatives for Afghanistan in Tashkent on 7 March. Discussion in the meeting focused on the current situation in Afghanistan and how we can cooperate to improve the situation in the country and establish long-term peace and stability in Afghanistan.
Our goal is to achieve comprehensive and durable peace in Afghanistan as well as sustainable development in the country. We believe that this can only be achieved through joint efforts and collective cooperation between neighbours, relevant countries in the region and the international community.
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