At a meeting of the United Nations Security Council, China’s representative called on the Taliban to respect the fundamental rights of Afghan girls and to reopen schools to girls above grade six.
Referring to the UN Secretary-General’s annual report, he noted that Afghanistan is facing the fifth consecutive year of restrictions on girls’ education, and that the current Afghan authorities must take practical and serious measures to ensure girls’ access to education and the labour market.
The Chinese envoy stated that although the security situation in Afghanistan has become relatively stable, the fight against terrorism still faces serious challenges. He stressed that the international community should adopt a coordinated and unified approach to Afghanistan and continue engaging with the Taliban in a practical and realistic manner.
He warned that reductions in international aid, the large-scale return of migrants, and the ongoing crisis in the Middle East could further increase the risks of instability and violence in Afghanistan.
The envoy added that only a limited portion of the required humanitarian assistance is reaching Afghanistan, and that due to insufficient aid, many Afghans are facing hunger, disease, and economic hardship.
He further proposed that the UN Security Council should facilitate greater ease for the travel and international engagements of Taliban officials, in order to strengthen the process of engagement and cooperation with Afghanistan.
Writer:Saeed Sameer
