A United Nations-backed proposal to resolve Afghanistan’s political and humanitarian crisis is currently conducting high-level consultations with all stakeholders, including the Taliban, to identify practical ways to take the plan forward.
The United Nations Assistance Mission to Afghanistan (UNAMA) presented a strategy at a Doha meeting in February, aimed at helping resolve the country’s political and humanitarian crisis.
UNAMA spokesperson, Stefan Smith told Rukhshana Media that the plan is a comprehensive roadmap, building on the Independent Assessment made by the United Nations Security Council in November 2023.
“The starting point for this process was the Independent Assessment, which envisioned a final goal of an Afghanistan at peace with itself and its neighbors, fully integrated into the international community, and committed to its international obligations – without going through yet another cycle of violence,” Mr Smith said.
He said the plan unveiled in February has a mandate to consult with all stakeholders including the Taliban, emphasizing that such engagement does not mean formal recognition or normalization of relations, as those decisions lie within the authority of UN member states.
The document titled “A Comprehensive Approach in Afghanistan” outlined a need to establish a political pathway that addresses the interests of all parties, including the people of Afghanistan, the Taliban, and the international community.
It stated that the ultimate goal was to achieve an Afghanistan that is “at peace with itself and its neighbors, integrated into the international community, and committed to international obligations” and structured the plan around two parallel tracks: the working groups and the Mosaic process.
Working groups:
These are groups focused on addressing urgent and practical issues such as combating drug trafficking, repatriating Afghanistan’s central bank assets, lifting sanctions, facilitating humanitarian aid, and tackling women’s rights issues, including online education for girls and women.
Mosaic Process:
This component addresses the more complex structural and political issues, such as the formation of an inclusive government, the protection of human rights, the lifting of targeted sanctions, and Afghanistan’s diplomatic representation on the global stage. It involves multilateral, long-term dialogues with both domestic and international stakeholders.
In the document, UNAMA emphasized the success of the roadmap depends on the cooperation of a broad range of actors including the Taliban as the de facto authority, regional countries and G7+ members, Afghan civil society groups both inside and outside the country, and international bodies concerned with sanctions and human rights.
Mr Smith said that the current consultations with all stakeholders are aimed at identifying initial practical steps to advance the issues outlined within the Mosaic framework.
