S/PV.10116 Security Council

In accordance with rule 37 of the Council’s provisional rules of procedure, I invite the representatives of Afghanistan, India and the Islamic Republic of Iran to participate in this meeting. In accordance with rule 39 of the Council’s provisional rules of procedure, I invite Ms. Georgette Gagnon, Deputy Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Afghanistan, Officer-in-Charge of the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan, to participate in this meeting. The Security Council will now begin its consideration of the item on its agenda. I now give the floor to Ms. Gagnon. Ms. Gagnon: The Council’s ambition for Afghanistan, affirmed in resolution 2721 (2023), is a country at peace with itself and its neighbours, fully reintegrated into the international community and meeting international obligations, including on women’s rights, human rights and counter-terrorism. This goal, and the preservation of stability in Afghanistan, is even more important in view of recent developments. The conflict with Pakistan has had punishing human and economic costs. We reiterate the Secretary-General’s deep concern about the escalation and impact on civilian populations and his call for an immediate cessation of hostilities and for the two countries to resolve any differences through diplomacy. We urge both sides to recommit to a ceasefire without delay and safeguard the protection of civilians. I also reiterate our request to ensure the free flow of humanitarian assistance into Afghanistan. Currently, it is difficult to predict the outcome of the conflict in the Middle East, but it is already affecting Afghanistan. With the border closed between Afghanistan and Pakistan, the Islamic Republic of Iran provided an alternative trade route that is now also increasingly uncertain owing to the ongoing conflict. The prices of basic commodities in Afghanistan have begun to rise, stressing Afghanistan’s already fragile economy. Instability in the region, on both of Afghanistan’s longest borders, undermines Afghanistan’s stability. We stress, however, that Afghanistan’s continued alienation from the international system remains the central issue. It prevents other issues, such as economic selfsufficiency, security cooperation, counter-terrorism commitments, human rights concerns and the humanitarian crisis, from being fully addressed. If these issues are not dealt with, Afghanistan could again become a driver of regional and global instability, in the form of out-migration, terrorism, narcotics and more. Within this increasingly complex context, at the request of the Council and in accordance with the recommendations of the November 2023 independent assessment (see S/2023/856), the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) has sought to advance a political pathway to create the conditions to achieve the desired end state. This engagement, through the Doha process, is one in which the interests and the concerns of all — the Afghan people, the international community and the de facto authorities — can be fairly discussed. It balances necessary pragmatism and patience with adherence to the United Nations’ core principles. It has maintained existing channels for constructive engagement and opened new ones and ensured that the rights, well-being and aspirations of the Afghan people remain front and centre of our efforts. This engagement process is also a recognition that the situation in Afghanistan remains a multilateral challenge that requires a multilateral solution. And it requires the full weight and engagement of the Council and the Member States of the United Nations. Before outlining the country’s multiple challenges, several positive developments speak to the value of this engagement and opportunities ahead. One of the tasks mandated to UNAMA is to support Afghanistan’s economic and social stability and resilience. Through the United Nations’ coordination of international assistance, the Afghan people have been supported to better endure compounding crises: from successive droughts to frequent earthquakes, from food insecurity to the return of millions of refugees. The de facto authorities’ ban on opium poppy cultivation, a long-standing demand of the international community, has also been maintained for the past three years, despite the huge cost to rural livelihoods. The results of the latest survey issued by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime show the land given over to opium poppy cultivation in 2025 was just 10,200 hectares, 20 per cent lower than in 2024 and a minimal fraction of the pre-ban levels recorded in 2022. More support from the international community is needed to maintain the gains made on counter-narcotics. Despite sanctions and limited revenues, the de facto authorities have initiated large-scale infrastructure projects that could contribute to Afghanistan’s economic development if they can be completed. The country has also absorbed 5.5 million Afghans returning from neighbouring countries since September 2023, with declining international assistance and without evident social breakdown. These developments have fed into constructive engagements in our political efforts. The working groups on counter-narcotics and on enabling the private sector, which complement the broader Doha process, have achieved results. We have seen more robust expert exchanges, greater transparency and the unlocking of more resources to support the Afghan people. The private sector is also one of the few areas where there is some space for Afghan women to exercise their initiative and independence. Despite these developments, the decisions of the de facto authorities and the resulting alienation of Afghanistan from the international community undermines their declared efforts to achieve economic self-sufficiency. The policies that the de facto authorities have imposed on the Afghan people, particularly on education for girls and women, have the effect of depleting the country’s substantial human capital over the medium and long term. It remains an extraordinary act of harm against not only Afghan women and girls, but all Afghan people. The humanitarian situation is taxing the resilience of Afghan communities. Since 2021, international partners have responded generously to address urgent humanitarian needs. This year, however, the humanitarian crisis is worsened by significant funding cuts, growing needs — including due to the large-scale return of refugees — and policies of the de facto authorities that prioritize ideological rigidity over the well-being of the Afghan people. Restrictions on women working in the humanitarian sector is one clear example. Major urban centres are being stretched far beyond their capacity. Years of economic deterioration and recurrent climate shocks have diminished families’ ability to cope and are driving new outmigration and secondary displacement. In 2026, humanitarian partners plan to reach 17.5 million Afghans through a humanitarian appeal of $1.71 billion. This places Afghanistan second globally in terms of people targeted, and sixth globally on total funding requirements. This appeal is only 10 per cent funded at present. The Organization’s ability to deliver assistance and reach Afghan women is being impeded by a now-six-month ban on United Nations female national personnel being able to report for duty at their places of work. Their absence deprives the United Nations of their skills and experience and reduces our ability to provide vital support to Afghan women and the wider community. The restrictions are a breach of international rules on the privileges and immunities of United Nations personnel, and a violation of the Charter of the United Nations. We again urge the de facto authorities to lift these restrictions and allow our United Nations female national staff to return to their offices. The de facto authorities continue to be selective in their acceptance of the Afghan State’s international obligations and display unwillingness to address key areas of concern. The unacceptable situation for Afghan women and girls continues. They are now entering their fifth year of almost total exclusion from public life and from education past grade 6. On girls’ education, there are ways forward, and we urge the de facto authorities to resolve this issue. Their own decree suspending girls’ education states that it is temporary until conditions permit. The international community is prepared to help create permissible conditions. This is a bridge that can be crossed. It would be hugely beneficial to Afghan society, to Afghan women and girls, now and into the future. It would send a positive signal to the world. Similarly, the recent decree number 12, on criminal rules of courts, further distances the Afghan people from the realization of their human rights and the country’s international obligations and undermines hopes for a system that is responsive to peoples’ needs and more inclusive of Afghanistan’s diversity, with women and men treated as equals. The decree is discriminatory against women and religious minorities. Its vague wording opens the potential for misinterpretation and abuse. The decree, like the ban on girls’ education, is another distressing sign that Afghanistan’s leadership is indifferent to the concerns of the international community and the Afghan people. The de facto authorities also have a way to go to convince the world that they are serious about meeting their counter-terrorism commitments. While de facto authorities have been generally effective in combating Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant- Khorasan, Afghanistan’s neighbours continue to express concerns about extremism emanating from Afghanistan, in particular from groups affiliated with the de facto authorities, as detailed in the reports of the Analytical Support and Sanctions Monitoring Team of the Committee established pursuant to resolution 1988 (2011). The unresolved issue between Afghanistan and Pakistan regarding Tehrik-e Taliban Pakistan has now led to an active conflict on the border between the two countries, which has included air strikes in Afghan cities. More broadly the potential threat of terrorism coming from Afghanistan remains a critical issue that concerns and unites the international community. We are grateful for the expressions of support to UNAMA from the Council. Even more valuable and necessary is the continued attention and consensus of the Council and its active engagement on Afghanistan. The United Nations is the convener of the Doha process, but it is the Member States that can best demonstrate and provide the incentives for reintegration. And it is the de facto authorities that must do more, through their actions, to show that they are ready and interested in achieving this end state. We look forward to the renewal of our mandate next week. At a time marked by instability across the wider region, the continued backing of the Council is vital to reinforce avenues for principled and pragmatic engagement, considering Afghanistan’s key role in regional and global stability. UNAMA with all United Nations agencies, funds and programmes, remains fully committed to advancing our shared objective articulated at the beginning of this briefing: an Afghanistan at peace with itself and its neighbours, reintegrated into the international system and meeting its international obligations for the benefit of the Afghan people.

I thank Ms. Gagnon for her briefing. I shall now make a statement in my capacity as the representative of the United States of America. It has been four long and, frankly, painful years since the Taliban takeover in Afghanistan. It should not surprise anyone that the situation is dire. The Taliban, through their policies, inflict constant and consistent hardship and suffering on the people of Afghanistan, limiting access to very basic services and rights and perpetuating human rights abuses, including unconscionable and frankly disgusting restrictions on the exercise of women’s rights. These oppressive policies have led to humanitarian disaster and economic crisis. And through all of this, the international community, including several countries represented today in this room, has sought to provide assistance in support of the Afghan people. Meanwhile, the Taliban have continued to impede that support. They have continued to manipulate that support. They have solidified their indifference to the wellbeing of the Afghan people. And unfortunately, the Taliban continue to engage in hostage diplomacy and to impede the function of the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA), including, as noted by the Deputy Special Representative of the Secretary-General, by preventing Afghan female staff from entering United Nations premises across the country. The Taliban’s actions demonstrate bad faith and have made us deeply sceptical of their willingness to meet their international commitments or respect Afghanistan’s international obligations. This concern certainly applies to the Doha process. While the United States continues to participate in the process and its working groups, we doubt the Taliban’s motives. We cannot build confidence with a group that continues to detain innocent Americans and ignores the basic needs of the Afghan people. In view of the Taliban’s intransigence, we must carefully evaluate the utility of international assistance and engagement in Afghanistan. UNAMA’s budget is the largest of any special political mission in the world, even after a 15 per cent reduction in its 2026 budget. The Council must carefully consider the funds that we collectively provide for this Mission’s budget, given that the Mission’s female national staff are not even able to go into the office to work. The Deputy Special Representative of the Secretary- General cited a $1 billion shortfall requirement for humanitarian aid. I would submit that perhaps the international community would be more willing to fill that shortfall if the Taliban were not excluding half of its own population from basic rights and responsibilities. The United States’ top priority in Afghanistan remains the protection of United States citizens and of the United States homeland, which includes mitigating terrorist threats emanating from Afghanistan and securing the release of all those unjustly detained. We welcome last month’s renewal of the mandate of the Analytical Support and Sanctions Monitoring Team, monitoring Security Council sanctions on the Taliban. Within the Council, we must condemn the Taliban for its engagement in hostage diplomacy and, again, for its disregard of the well-being of the Afghan people. The United States and dozens of other countries dedicated and devoted billions of dollars, time, treasure and the lives of their citizens to improve Afghanistan’s future. The Council must continue to demand responsible actions from the Taliban. The people of Afghanistan deserve no less. I now resume my functions as President of the Council. I shall now give the floor to those members of the Council who wish to make statements. Lady Smith (United Kingdom): I thank Deputy Special Representative of the Secretary-General Gagnon for her insightful briefing this afternoon. Let me first begin by expressing the United Kingdom’s deep concern about the intensification of the Taliban’s repression. We are appalled by the continued restrictions imposed on the women and girls of Afghanistan, including the ban preventing Afghan women from accessing United Nations spaces. Millions are being systematically excluded from society. As we heard from Afghan student Sunbul Reha in the opening meeting of the session of the Commission on the Status of Women this morning, this is not an abstract concept, but a devastating infringement of women’s rights, opportunities and dreams, and it cannot continue. As we mark the beginning of the session of the Commission on the Status of Women here at the United Nations, the United Kingdom stands in solidarity with the women and girls of Afghanistan, who deserve full, meaningful and equal participation in all areas of life. We are dismayed by the Taliban’s new criminal procedures directive, which legitimizes domestic violence, embeds religious discrimination and targets women and minorities. These oppressive measures must be rescinded. As my Foreign Secretary has said, the rights of all Afghans must be protected. Secondly, the United Kingdom is deeply concerned about the significant escalation in tensions between Afghanistan and Pakistan. We call for de-escalation and re-engagement in mediated dialogue. Finally, the United Kingdom is a long-standing and major donor to Afghanistan, providing more than $200 million this financial year for vital life-saving and basic services support to the country’s most vulnerable people, especially women and girls. We are therefore deeply dismayed by the Taliban’s refusal to allow essential health and nutrition supplies over the border into Afghanistan. This is having a severe impact on the delivery of aid. It is vital that these goods are allowed to enter Afghanistan without obstruction and without delay. Twenty-two million people across the country remain in dire need of humanitarian assistance. Progress in Afghanistan requires the Taliban to engage meaningfully in the United Nations process. This is the path towards the goal that we collectively agreed in resolution 2721 (2023), of an Afghanistan that is at peace with itself and its neighbours, fully reintegrated into the international community and meeting its international obligations. The United Kingdom supports the efforts of the United Nations leadership and the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan in this regard and looks forward to continuing to work together with its international and regional partners to this end.

I thank Deputy Special Representative Georgette Gagnon for her briefing and appreciate the efforts of the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan to help Afghanistan rebuild, develop and engage in dialogue with the international community. At present, Afghanistan is facing multiple challenges, including humanitarian, development, counter-terrorism and human rights challenges. The Afghan Government and all parties concerned should work together to promote the stabilization and development of Afghanistan and its early integration into the international community. I wish to make the following points. First, improving people’s livelihoods is a top priority. In Afghanistan, there are still nearly 22 million people in need of humanitarian assistance, with more than 30 million people living on less than $1 a day. Explosive remnants of war continue to cause civilian casualties, while the return of millions of refugees and frequent natural disasters further exacerbate the humanitarian crisis and development challenges facing the country. Regrettably, some countries have drastically reduced or even halted their assistance to Afghanistan, forcing many relief programmes run by the United Nations and international humanitarian agencies to shut down last year. As a result, problems such as food insecurity, public health challenges and malnutrition among children and pregnant women have become even more severe. We call on traditional donors, especially those countries that bear a historical responsibility vis-à-vis Afghanistan, to immediately resume and increase assistance and to translate their concerns for the Afghan people into concrete action. The overseas assets of the Central Bank of Afghanistan belong to the Afghan people. The relevant countries should return them in full and lift illegal unilateral sanctions on the country. China welcomes the multiple meetings held by working groups on private sector development and counter-narcotics under the Doha process and the positive progress achieved. We support these working groups in playing a positive role to improve Afghanistan’s financial system and promote crop substitution, thereby helping Afghanistan to strengthen its capacity for self-sustained development. Secondly, it is imperative to safeguard the basic rights and interests of the people. In recent years, Afghan girls have not been able to receive a modern education beyond the sixth grade, and women’s basic rights and interests such as employment, access to healthcare, public services and participation in social life have become increasingly restricted. This not only harms the physical and mental well-being of Afghan women but also undermines social stability and economic development. We hope that the Afghan authorities will demonstrate openness, inclusiveness and a sense of responsibility by listening to the legitimate aspirations of their people and the reasonable concerns of the international community, promptly adjusting relevant policies and effectively safeguarding the basic rights of all people, including women, so as to earn greater trust and support from the international community. The prolonged inability of female Afghan staff of the United Nations to return to their posts has directly affected the effectiveness of the international assistance for Afghanistan. We call on the Afghan authorities to lift the ban as soon as possible and facilitate the work of United Nations agencies in the country. Thirdly, eliminating terrorism is a foundation of security. According to the United Nations report (S/2026/99), terrorist groups such as the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant-Khorasan, Al-Qaida, the Eastern Turkistan Islamic Movement, Tehrik-e Taliban Pakistan and the Baloch Liberation Army remain active in Afghanistan, posing a serious threat to it and its neighbouring countries. In January, a terrorist attack on a Chinese restaurant in Kabul caused multiple casualties, who included Chinese nationals. China strongly condemns and firmly opposes terrorism in all its forms and urges the Afghan authorities to swiftly establish the facts and bring the perpetrators to justice. We call on the Afghan side to recognize the grave harm posed by terrorism, to strengthen cooperation on counter-terrorism with countries of the region and to resolutely eliminate all terrorist forces operating from Afghan territory in order to maintain regional stability and security. The recent escalation of conflict between Pakistan and Afghanistan has caused heavy casualties on both sides. China is deeply concerned and saddened by this development. We call on both sides to remain calm and exercise restraint, achieve a ceasefire as soon as possible and promptly resolve their differences through dialogue and negotiation. China has been actively mediating in relation to tensions between Pakistan and Afghanistan through its own channels, and we stand ready to continue playing a constructive role in easing the situation and improving relations between the two countries. Afghanistan has endured decades of conflicts and turmoil, and its people long for a year of peace and stability. Addressing the multiple challenges facing Afghanistan requires continued engagement and dialogue between the international community and the Afghan authorities, with goodwill and sincerity on all sides in the search for effective ways to address each other’s concerns. China welcomes the recent visit of Under- Secretary-General DiCarlo to Afghanistan and supports continued constructive engagement between the United Nations and Afghanistan. We look forward to more substantive progress in the Doha process. The Security Council should adapt to the evolving situation and adjust the sanctions regime established pursuant to resolution 1988 (2011) in a timely manner, particularly by promptly reinstating the package of travel ban exemptions to facilitate engagement and dialogue. UNAMA’s mandate will expire in mid-March. As a penholder on Afghanistan in the Security Council, China will work to build consensus among Council members and support a smooth renewal of UNAMA’s mandate so that the Mission can continue to play a positive role in advancing a political settlement of the Afghanistan issue and promoting long-lasting peace and stability in Afghanistan.

We thank Ms. Georgette Gagnon, Deputy Head of the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA), for her assessment of the situation in Afghanistan. Russia has consistently supported UNAMA’s efforts in the execution of its mandate. We hope to see an increase in mutual trust between the Afghan Government and United Nations personnel. We have taken note of the Secretary-General’s report on the situation in the country (S/2026/99). Our remarks are as follows. Despite Western countries’ grim predictions, after the irresponsible withdrawal of foreign troops, Afghanistan has stood firm. The Afghan authorities’ banking on fostering multifaceted regional cooperation with a view to building an independent and selfsufficient State is already yielding tangible results. It is clear that, despite all the difficulties and the suffocating sanctions, painstaking work is under way to resolve the problems that have accumulated over the years of occupation. However, this process is not a swift one. A country that has been dependent on international support for 20 years now needs our collective, non-politicized support more than ever. Russia has consistently advocated for the development of a realistic and comprehensive approach to Afghanistan and continues to do so. That approach is based on an objective analysis and a balanced assessment of the situation in the country. There is not, nor will there be, any alternative to this imperative. The key ingredients are genuinely constructive engagement on the part of the international community on the Afghan issue, full consideration of the needs of the Afghan people themselves and a dialogue with the Taliban on all issues that is grounded in trust. Moreover, the success of such a dialogue will depend entirely on the willingness of both sides to engage in it and wholly reject pressure and blackmail. Such a non-politicized, comprehensive approach is shared by all regional players without exception, primarily the participants in the Moscow format and its regional quartet, as well as the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CTSO) and the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO), including the CSTO’s working group on Afghanistan and the SCO Afghanistan Contact Group. On the whole, a pragmatic attitude is also inherent in the “mosaic” approach promoted by UNAMA. That approach is grounded in cooperation with the Taliban on all key issues, including diplomatic representation, the lifting of sanctions and the unfreezing of assets, combating the terrorist and narcotics threats and the protection of human rights. The timely resolution of these issues without preconditions is key to Afghanistan’s international reintegration. However, attempts to promote a selective approach focused on issues that Western donors are willing to discuss will not lead to the desired outcome and will only further set back prospects of resolving the Afghan problem. Against this backdrop, it is regrettable that some Western donors have failed to learn from their past mistakes and still do not recognize the benefits of a broad dialogue with the Afghan authorities. They stubbornly address the Taliban in the language of ultimatums and impose on the United Nations, especially UNAMA, their line, which is doomed to failure. Colleagues must realize that their actions will jeopardize the future of the Mission as a whole. The Afghan authorities can hardly be expected to be interested in maintaining a United Nations presence tasked solely with serving the interests of the interventionists who were expelled in August 2021. We also appeal to the Secretary-General, whom everyone expects will soon appoint a new head of UNAMA: we trust that in his quest for the most suitable candidate, he will not only consult with Security Council members but will also take into account the opinion of the Afghan authorities themselves. Ultimately, the effective implementation of the Mission’s mandate will depend on their consent. We share the Secretary-General’s assessment on the domestic political situation in Afghanistan. We are concerned about the sharp escalation of armed clashes between Afghanistan and Pakistan, both of which are friends of ours. We are convinced that it is imperative to return the situation to the political and diplomatic track. We are ready to provide our friends with assistance and support. We also look forward to seeing a resumption of mutually beneficial interaction between them, including on counterterrorism issues. Another cause of concern is the persistent presence of the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant-Khorasan group. We see that the Government is making serious efforts to combat terrorist threats, but unfortunately these efforts are insufficient. Terrorists are using any excuse, any opportunity, to destabilize the situation in Afghanistan and beyond. Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant fighters continue to receive external financial support and recruit new members. The fact that the country continues to endure economic challenges and the armed clashes in the border areas also benefit them. We are paying close attention to the terrorist activities of foreign terrorist fighters who have gained combat experience in Syria and Iraq. The situation is also exacerbated by the unclear fate of the weapons abandoned by NATO forces. Another problem closely linked to terrorism is the drug problem. We commend the Taliban for their efforts to combat opium poppy cultivation, but it is too early to relax, since the production of synthetic drugs is increasing in local laboratories in Afghanistan. However, the efforts of the Afghan authorities alone are not enough. What is needed to eradicate the drug threat is extensive international assistance, including through the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime. The Russian Federation is paying close attention to the socioeconomic situation in the country. We note the selfless efforts of humanitarian agencies and their staff, who, under the most difficult conditions, continue to assist Afghans in need. We call on UNAMA to deal with its direct tasks, namely, to intensify efforts to unfreeze assets and promote development. To Western donors, we say: if they truly want to help the women and girls of Afghanistan not just with words but with deeds, then help to create conditions for them to live in a stable and developed country. This is especially important given a possible new wave of refugees who will have to return from neighbouring Iran amid the armed aggression against it led by the United States and Israel. On a permanent basis, Russia provides assistance to the people of Afghanistan. We are committed to developing partnership ties with this country in all areas, including regional security. We are interested in enhancing Afghanistan’s trade and economic potential and dialogue with representatives of local businesses in the framework of the specialized forums that my country is organizing. We are closely monitoring the developments regarding the protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms, including the inalienable rights to education and work for all Afghans, regardless of their ethnicity, religion or gender. We are monitoring the dynamics in forming a truly inclusive Government with the participation of all ethnic and political groups in the country. We expect to see progress on these two tracks. The Russian Federation sincerely supports the aspirations of the Afghan people to live in a peaceful and prosperous country, free from drugs and terrorism. Stability in the region overall largely hinges on how the situation in Afghanistan is developing. We call on the United Nations to ensure our cooperation with those Afghans who directly represent the real authorities and who indeed bear responsibility for what is happening in the country. This is the only way to solve the existing problems and truly reintegrate Afghanistan into the international community.

I thank the Deputy Special Representative for her briefing and commend the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) and all United Nations personnel for their continued service under challenging conditions. Yesterday, the international community marked International Women’s Day, reaffirming our collective commitment to gender equality and human rights. In Afghanistan, however, that commitment remains painfully out of reach. Allow me to raise three points. First, Denmark remains gravely concerned by the appalling human rights situation in Afghanistan. When the Taliban seized power in 2021, many feared a rollback in rights. Few could have imagined the scale, speed and systematic repression that has followed, especially for women and girls. The recent criminal procedures directive represents another step by the Taliban to entrench this trajectory. It reinforces discrimination, enables violence against women and children and further restricts freedom of expression. This morning, we marked the opening of the seventieth session of the Commission on the Status of Women, under the theme of ensuring and strengthening access to justice for all women and girls. This could not be more urgent in Afghanistan, where a woman might face three months in prison for visiting her family without permission, while a man who breaks her bones risks only 15 days behind bars. This is not justice; it is codified discrimination and a clear violation of Afghanistan’s international obligations. We must not allow such a systematic erosion of rights to become normalized. The rights of Afghan women and girls are universal and non-negotiable. Denmark demands that the Taliban immediately reverse this directive and other restrictive measures, including the ban on women’s access to medical education. We also urge the Taliban to lift the ban on Afghan female United Nations staff without delay. The United Nations cannot serve the Afghan people effectively while its female staff are barred from their workplaces. Secondly, Afghanistan remains in the grip of a profound humanitarian crisis. Widespread food insecurity and alarming levels of child malnutrition persist. Climatedriven drought and water scarcity are worsening shortages and deepening vulnerabilities, especially for women and children. At the same time, women and girls continue to face significant barriers in accessing essential services, including healthcare and nutrition. Broader regional tensions raise further concern for civilian protection, displacement and humanitarian access. The Taliban must ensure safe, sustained and unhindered access for humanitarian workers across the country, including by guaranteeing the full, equal and meaningful participation of women. We also stress the need to scale up support for the humanitarian response plan for Afghanistan, which, as we heard, remains significantly underfunded. Thirdly, the recent escalation between Afghanistan and Pakistan is deeply worrisome. Afghan territory must never be used to threaten or attack any country. We underline the importance of effective and sustained action against all terrorist groups operating in or from Afghanistan, including Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant- Khorasan and Tehrik-e Taliban Pakistan. Rather than providing cover, the Taliban must live up to their public promise to combat terrorist elements. The increase in cross-border attacks and reported strikes risk further destabilizing an already fragile region. Denmark echoes the Secretary-General in calling for an immediate cessation of violence and for all parties to exercise restraint and pursue de-escalation through dialogue. All parties must fully respect their obligations under international law, including international humanitarian law, and ensure the protection of civilians and civilian infrastructure at all times. In closing, Denmark supports an integrated and principled international approach to Afghanistan. The Doha process continues to provide an important framework for engagement, but it must remain anchored in clear principles and Afghanistan’s human rights obligations. As we approach the renewal of UNAMA’s mandate, let me reiterate Denmark’s strong support for the Mission. In a context of deepening human rights violations, humanitarian crisis and regional tensions, UNAMA remains indispensable. Denmark stands ready to work with all Council members to secure a strong UNAMA mandate and to support the Afghan people in their pursuit of dignity, human rights and lasting peace.

We thank Deputy Special Representative Georgette Gagnon for her briefing and acknowledge the important work carried out by the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA). We welcome the presence of Her Excellency Baroness Jacqui Smith, Minister of State, of the United Kingdom, as well as the representatives of the countries that honour us with their participation. Panama views with serious concern the deterioration of the situation of women and girls in Afghanistan. Persistent restrictions on girls’ access to secondary and higher education, together with the provisions recently adopted by the de facto authorities through new legal instruments that apply nationwide, raise serious questions about the country’s social and economic future. According to the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, this new regulatory framework incorporates into the legal system restrictions that directly affect women and girls, including provisions that limit their freedom of movement, reduce protections against domestic violence and reinforce mechanisms of moral control within the family. These provisions institutionalize patterns of discrimination that are incompatible with Afghanistan’s international human rights obligations and undermine its prospects for development, as no society can prosper when half its population remains excluded from education, employment and public life. These restrictions also affect the functioning of the United Nations system in the country. The ban preventing Afghan women from working in United Nations offices constitutes unjustified discrimination that limits the implementation of UNAMA’s mandate and its ability to provide effective assistance to the Afghan population. The threat of terrorism remains one of the most serious challenges to the stability of Afghanistan and the region. The most recent report of the Secretary-General (S/2026/99) notes the presence and activity of terrorist groups such as Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant-Khorasan and Tehrik-e Taliban Pakistan, among others, which continue to pose a significant threat to both the civilian population and the security of Afghanistan, as well as to the security of neighbouring countries and the region as a whole. The persistence of these threats highlights the importance of ensuring that Afghanistan does not become a permissive environment for the operation of terrorist groups. Some States in the region, such as Pakistan, are already directly facing the consequences of this threat and preventing such a scenario requires sustained effort and determined international cooperation. Panama considers that the fight against terrorism is a shared responsibility, as no country is completely safe from this threat. Terrorism is everyone’s enemy, and the response must be based on responsible cooperation between States. Finally, Panama believes that Afghanistan’s future must be built by preventing the country from falling back into a cycle of violence and widespread conflict and by addressing the root causes of its ongoing fragility. The only way to move in that direction is for the de facto authorities to demonstrate a willingness to engage constructively with the international community and to guarantee conditions that will enable Afghanistan to move towards a more inclusive, stable and peaceful future.

I have the honour to deliver this statement on behalf of the African members of the Security Council (A3), namely Liberia, Somalia and my own country, the Democratic Republic of the Congo. We thank the Deputy Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Afghanistan and Officer-in-Charge of the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA), Ms. Georgette Gagnon, for her comprehensive briefing. We would also like to welcome Her Excellency Baroness Jacqui Smith, Minister of State, of the United Kingdom. The A3 remains concerned by the complex political, humanitarian and socioeconomic challenges facing Afghanistan. The Afghan people continue to endure the consequences of prolonged instability, in addition to economic hardship and limited access to essential services. The A3 reaffirms the importance of sustained international engagement in support of the Afghan people. In this regard, the A3 would like to highlight the following points. First, the A3 reiterates its strong commitment to the sovereignty, independence, territorial integrity and national unity of Afghanistan. Secondly, the A3 reiterates its strong support for the continued work of UNAMA, while underlining the critical role played by the Mission as a key platform for international engagement and coordination of humanitarian and development efforts in Afghanistan. With this in mind, it is important to ensure that the Mission is able to operate in conditions that allow it to effectively carry out its mandate, including through safe and unhindered access for United Nations personnel and partners. Thirdly, the A3 expresses deep concern over the worsening humanitarian situation in Afghanistan, as the cumulative effects of declining international assistance, largescale returns of displaced populations, natural disasters and disruptions in regional trade continue to exert immense pressure on Afghan communities. The A3 is gravely alarmed by the sharp deterioration in food security, with 21.9 million people projected to need humanitarian assistance in 2026. The 2026 humanitarian needs and response plan forecasts $1.71 billion are necessary to provide life-saving support. The A3 commends the persistent efforts of the United Nations and humanitarian partners working under extremely challenging conditions and urges donors to act swiftly to close the funding gaps. Fourthly, the A3 recognizes that the full participation of women and girls is a cornerstone for Afghanistan’s successful reintegration into the international community. We emphasize that ensuring access to education, employment, fundamental freedoms and meaningful participation in society will unlock the nation’s full potential and uphold the dignity of its people. The A3 is also concerned by restrictions preventing United Nations Afghan female personnel from accessing UNAMA premises. In that regard, we call on the authorities to permit United Nations national female personnel to return to their places of work. Fifthly, the A3 remains concerned by the continued threats posed by terrorist groups operating within Afghanistan and reaffirms that its territory should not be used as a platform for terrorist activities that jeopardize regional and international peace and security. Furthermore, the A3 urges countries of the region to intensify support for efforts to counter threats from terrorist organizations operating in Afghan territory. In this regard, the A3 underline the importance of the Security Council sanctions regime concerning Afghanistan and reiterate their support for the work of the Security Council Committee established pursuant to resolution 1988 (2011). Sixthly, the A3 reiterates that engagement between the international community and Afghanistan is crucial for Afghanistan’s sustainable peace, stability and social and economic development. We note the Secretary-General’s call on all members of the Doha process and the Afghan authorities to further engage in the proposed comprehensive approach, as envisioned by resolution 2721 (2023), towards the objective of an Afghanistan fully reintegrated into the international community. In conclusion, we stress the importance of a coordinated and integrated approach among political, humanitarian and development actors in order to better address the multiple challenges facing the Afghan people. The A3 reaffirms its steadfast solidarity with the people of Afghanistan and its commitment to help them in the pursuit of lasting peace, security, stability and development.

I would like to thank the Deputy Special Representative of the Secretary-General, Ms. Georgette Gagnon, for her briefing. As the current session of the Commission on the Status of Women opens today, France stands firmly alongside Afghan women and girls. France strongly condemns the Taliban’s continued policy of systematically violating the rights of women and girls. The new so-called decree on regulatory provisions in criminal matters, which relegates women to an inferior category, almost depriving them of their status as human beings, is yet another unacceptable illustration of this. This so-called decree further codifies the gender segregation practiced by the Taliban. These systematic violations of women’s rights constitute gender persecution, a crime against humanity under the Rome Statute. These inhuman acts cannot go unpunished. The Taliban’s violations of international obligations also concern the fight against terrorism. Afghan territory continues to be used by terrorist groups to foment attacks against countries in the region and beyond. In accordance with resolution 2593 (2021), France calls on the Taliban to take concrete measures to combat terrorism, in particular Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant-Khorasan, Al-Qaida and Tehrik-e Taliban Pakistan. Considering these developments, the international community must question the effectiveness of its engagement strategy and its long-term objectives. Since the launch of the Doha process more than three years ago, the Taliban have responded to our engagement with further provocations and violations of international obligations and Security Council resolutions. France is not closing the door to dialogue because it refuses to abandon the Afghan people, whom it continues to support by providing humanitarian aid based on the principle of “for and by women” under extremely precarious conditions for humanitarian workers. And the international community must not lose sight of the objective of the dialogue initiated in Doha: an Afghanistan at peace with its neighbours and respecting the rights of all Afghans. The measures taken as part of the Doha process must be commensurate with this challenge and the gravity of the situation. France commends the work of the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) and all United Nations agencies, funds and programmes in the country. We support UNAMA in the implementation of all aspects of its mandate, including facilitating an inclusive political process and protecting human rights. We welcome the recent visit by the Under-Secretary-General to Kabul to deliver strong messages to the Taliban on the demands of the international community. The Taliban’s ban on Afghan women employees from entering United Nations premises, which has been in place for more than six months, is unacceptable. These restrictions prevent UNAMA and other agencies from implementing the mandate set out in Security Council resolutions. It is the responsibility of the Council to ensure compliance with its resolutions, starting with resolutions 2593 (2021) and 2681 (2023). Finally, France calls for the swift appointment of a new Special Representative of the Secretary-General and renews its support for UNAMA in the exercise of its political mandate.

At the outset, allow me to thank the United States of America, in its capacity as President of the Council for this month, for convening this meeting. I also thank Ms. Georgette Gagnon, Deputy Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Afghanistan and Officer-in-Charge of the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA), for her work and her valuable briefing. Humanitarian, economic, human rights and security challenges intersect in Afghanistan today, with direct implications for regional stability. The Secretary- General’s latest report (S/2026/99) makes clear that these challenges are increasing amid a deteriorating human rights situation, namely the trampled rights of women and girls, a decline in international assistance, the large-scale return of populations, natural disasters and continuing terrorist threats and attacks. This situation requires a comprehensive response that addresses the root causes of the crisis and mitigates its cross-border repercussions. The report also highlights the continued systematic discrimination against women and girls, the deprivation of their right to work and to education, as the education ban approaches its fifth year. The Kingdom of Bahrain reaffirms that lifting the restrictions imposed on women and girls is an indispensable step towards promoting stability and recovery. Additionally, the report notes that the restrictions preventing Afghan national female United Nations staff members from accessing their workplaces have now entered their sixth month. Such restrictions undermine the Misson’s ability to implement its mandate and are inconsistent with the Charter of the United Nations. The Kingdom of Bahrain calls for their immediate removal. Humanitarian needs remain immense. The report indicates that more than 21 million people will require humanitarian assistance in 2026. It also indicates that nearly 17 million people are facing acute food insecurity. The Kingdom of Bahrain calls for sustainable and flexible international support to ensures the continuation of essential services and the protection of the most vulnerable groups in a manner that promotes stability and reduces cross-border risks, including those posed by terrorist organizations. In the light of the recent escalation between Afghanistan and Pakistan, we call on all parties to exercise restraint, prioritize dialogue and diplomacy and avoid further escalation in order to spare both peoples the scourge of conflict. In conclusion, the Kingdom of Bahrain underscores the importance of the role of UNAMA as the main United Nations presence in Afghanistan and as facilitator of a coordinated and effective international engagement through the Doha process. In this regard, we commend the efforts of the State of Qatar in hosting this process and its ongoing support, which contributes to advancing dialogue and enhancing regional coordination. We also welcome positive indicators of a decline in the cultivation of poppy and stress the importance of supporting alternative livelihoods and licit economies in ways that promote the development of the Afghan community and curb the illicit drug-related economy. The Kingdom of Bahrain reaffirms its commitment to supporting international efforts aimed at achieving security, stability and prosperity in Afghanistan and ensuring that it remains free of terrorism, in the interest of international peace and security.

It has been more than four years since the Taliban came to power. It was hoped that the Taliban would transform and evolve into a responsible governing entity and lead their country into a new era of peace and prosperity, with good neighbourliness and adherence to international obligations. As an immediate neighbour, in order to secure a peaceful and stable Afghanistan, Pakistan regularly facilitated dialogue and engagement with the Taliban authorities. Last year, for example, we had a series of high-level visits to Kabul, presenting a number of initiatives; assisting in humanitarian relief efforts; offering bilateral trade incentives, a liberalized visa regime and transit concessions; and participating in regional platforms to help Afghanistan integrate with the region and beyond. Here, I would also like to recall that, in order to facilitate direct dialogue, the international community had also extended an olive branch to the Taliban during the third meeting of the Doha process, with the expectation that they would deliver on three key international demands, namely counter-terrorism, human rights and inclusive governance. I think that today’s discussion also makes it clear that, regrettably, they have failed to deliver on all three counts. Today Afghanistan is a sanctuary for terrorist groups and proxies. This is a reality acknowledged by global assessments, including United Nations reports and the Analytical Support and Sanctions Monitoring Team. This has destabilized the region, with dire consequences and security challenges for its immediate neighbours, particularly Pakistan. Terrorism emanating from Afghan soil poses a grave threat not only to the country’s immediate neighbours, but also to the broader region and beyond, undermining regional and international peace and security. Terrorist entities, including Tehrik-e Taliban Pakistan (TTP), the Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) and its Majeed Brigade, Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant- Khorasan (ISIL-K), Al-Qaida and the Eastern Turkistan Islamic Movement, enjoy safe havens inside Afghanistan, from where they launch cross-border infiltration, violent attacks and suicide bombings. Elements within the Taliban regime have chosen the path of complicity with and active support of these groups, with the external backing and sponsorship of our eastern neighbour, a known opportunist and spoiler, providing logistical support and financing to wage a proxy war against Pakistan. Pakistan has since witnessed a surge in terrorist attacks planned, financed and orchestrated from Afghan soil under the Taliban regime’s direct watch. We have lost thousands of lives to terrorism-related incidents since the Taliban takeover. And just last month, more than 175 innocent Pakistani lives were lost, including in three suicide attacks. We would like to caution that the spillover effects of nurturing terrorism in Afghanistan will not remain confined to Pakistan. Pakistan has always prioritized dialogue. Numerous diplomatic efforts were made to counsel the Taliban and to convey our concerns. Recent mediation efforts facilitated by the sincere support of brotherly countries, particularly Qatar, Türkiye and Saudi Arabia, have not yielded the desired results either. The Taliban’s continued failure to undertake substantive action, their rigid reluctance to provide assurances and guarantees and the refusal of their leadership to publicly denounce and condemn terrorist groups, such as the TTP and the BLA, highlights the extent of their complicity and active support. Terrorist groups are collaborating by conducting joint training, acquiring illicit weapons and coordinating attacks. But Pakistan will not sit idly by while suffering from terrorist acts committed from across the Afghan border that target our border posts, law enforcement agencies and civilian infrastructure, including public spaces of worship and schools. We have confiscated large caches of sophisticated military-grade modern equipment left behind by foreign forces in Afghanistan during our counter-terrorism operations. After showing maximum restraint, on 21 and 22 February Pakistan carried out the intelligence-based selective targeting of seven terrorist camps and hideouts belonging to the TTP and its affiliates and ISIL-K in the bordering regions with precision and accuracy. On 26 February, the Taliban publicly declared their decision to initiate hostilities against Pakistan across multiple border locations, with unprovoked firing and shelling of border posts and military installations. In exercise of its right to self-defence, Pakistan took retaliatory measures against hostile targets and logistical bases used by terrorist groups. Our actions have been proportional, based on careful planning, with the necessary due diligence and directed solely against identified terrorist camps and support bases. Pakistan will take all necessary defensive measures to protect its citizens, territory and sovereignty. Our counter-terrorism operations will continue for as long as it takes to degrade the combat capabilities of terrorist groups and support infrastructure. While the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan mentions the reported civilian casualties during cross-border clashes, it has not presented a realistic overview of Afghanistan’s security dynamics and efforts to prevent illicit trade and the destabilizing accumulation of small arms and light weapons and their diversion in Afghanistan and the region, as mandated by the Council. The presence of terrorist entities in Afghanistan cannot be delinked from the security situation. UNAMA’s ability to accurately verify incidents of border clashes and reports of civilian casualties in an environment in which access to areas outside Kabul is restricted and strictly monitored by the Taliban raises serious questions of credibility. Ordinary and vulnerable Afghans are suffering from Taliban’s inhumane restrictions and misplaced priorities. Sanctions, a dysfunctional banking system, the drying up of foreign aid, poverty, terrorism, narcotics and human rights violations weigh heavily on Afghanistan’s socioeconomic landscape — a direct result of the Taliban’s reckless behaviour. Continued restrictions on women and girls inside Afghanistan are inconsistent with Islamic traditions and the norms of Muslim society. Pakistan fully shares the international community’s concerns about human rights and the discriminatory treatment of women and girls. Increasing financing gaps in the humanitarian needs and response plan for 2026, requiring $1.71 billion for basic needs, demonstrates the lack of support for a regime that is willing to sacrifice the welfare of its people to uphold its own flawed policies. For more than four decades, Pakistan welcomed millions of Afghan refugees despite constraints and inadequate international support, coping with the huge caseload of illegal Afghans without documentation, posing a serious threat to our security. These were not meant to be indefinite stays. While we continue to extend all possible facilitation, the international community must shoulder its responsibility, share this burden and uphold commitments that have been long delayed, unkept and at times reversed. Shifting the blame of Afghanistan’s woes to the influx of returnees does not reflect realities on the ground either. Pakistan has consistently advocated sustained engagement with Afghanistan. We look forward to the next steps of the United Nations-led Doha process and action plan, with its mosaic approach to addressing Afghanistan’s multifaceted challenges comprehensively, with well-defined objectives and a realistic road map as the only viable pathway to lasting peace in Afghanistan. Without reciprocity from the Afghan Taliban regime, we fear that we will go nowhere. As an immediate neighbour, bound to Afghanistan by geography, deep-rooted ties, cultural linkages and fraternal bonds, no country desires peace and stability in Afghanistan more than Pakistan, and no country has suffered more from the consequences of decades of conflict and instability in Afghanistan than Pakistan. We wish to see a peaceful, stable, interconnected and prosperous Afghanistan, at peace with itself and its neighbours — a point also highlighted by the Deputy Special Representative of the Secretary-General. Pakistan’s demand on Afghanistan has always been singular and clear: verifiable and irreversible action against terrorists. This demand remains unmet to date. The Taliban must, first and foremost, ensure that their territory is not used for terrorism against neighbouring countries and take demonstrable steps to deny space to terrorist groups and proxies.

I would like to thank Deputy Special Representative Georgette Gagnon for her insightful remarks. As we celebrate International Women’s Day with the opening of the seventieth session of the Commission on the Status of Women today, our thoughts turn to the women and girls of Afghanistan, who are suffering under Taliban rule for the fifth consecutive year. In a world striving towards equality, Afghan women are not merely being sidelined from society, they are being persecuted and systematically erased from public life. I would like to make the following three points. First, the restrictions preventing female Afghan United Nations personnel from accessing their offices, which have been in effect since September 2025, coupled with the Taliban’s December 2024 ban on medical education for women and girls, has pushed the healthcare and humanitarian sectors to the brink of collapse. We urge the Taliban to immediately lift these restrictions and restore full access to education for girls beyond the sixth grade. Moreover, the restrictions on media freedom and freedom of expression are unacceptable, in particular those concerning book censorship and social media monitoring. We are also deeply concerned about the rising incidents of corporal punishment, public executions, arbitrary arrests and detentions, extrajudicial killings and torture and ill-treatment inflicted on the Afghan population. The latest addition to the Taliban system of oppression — the decree on criminal rules for courts or so-called “New Penal Code” — not only codifies discriminatory provisions for different categories of citizens but also explicitly deprives women of the last vestiges of legal protection. In view of the above, we support all means of accountability, including the recently established Independent Investigative Mechanism for Afghanistan. At the same time, we reiterate our call for the Taliban to honour Afghanistan’s international commitments, in particular the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women. Secondly, we share the Secretary-General’s concern about the recent cross-border clashes between the Taliban and Pakistani security forces, which have resulted in numerous civilian casualties, including women and children, and the destruction of civilian infrastructure. We reiterate that the protection of civilians and strict adherence to international humanitarian law are of paramount importance. We call for a lasting cessation of hostilities through de-escalation, dialogue and mediation efforts. Moreover, the territory of Afghanistan should not be used to threaten or attack any country, and we call on the Taliban to take active measures to combat terrorism. At the same time, we call for unhindered humanitarian access for aid destined to Afghanistan. As the country grapples with multiple humanitarian challenges, including acute food insecurity, recurring public health emergencies, natural hazards and unprecedented numbers of returnees, the continuation of hostilities poses a challenge to the effective delivery of life-saving assistance to the most vulnerable populations. Aid entering the country needs to be safely and expeditiously delivered across all of Afghanistan. Thirdly, Greece reiterates its full support for the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) and the upcoming renewal of its mandate in its entirety, including the provisions on human rights. At the same time, the proposed road map to foster more coherent, coordinated and structured engagement between the international community and the Taliban offers a clear path forward. However, its success depends on reciprocity. The recent visit of Under-Secretary-General DiCarlo to Kabul is yet another testament to the international community’s sincerity in this regard. It is now incumbent upon the Taliban to prove their good faith by upholding their international obligations and establishing the long-awaited mechanism so as to engage on UNAMA’s comprehensive approach. As Afghanistan experiences a period of fragile stability, let us remind the Taliban that sustainable economic recovery and international reintegration begin with the reintegration of women into Afghan society and absolute respect for human rights.

At the outset, I would like to thank Deputy Special Representative of the Secretary-General Georgette Gagnon for her briefing. I also welcome the delegations that are with us today. Recent developments underscore the continuing complex challenges in Afghanistan, including the lack of genuinely inclusive governance and persistent human rights violations. Colombia categorically condemns the systematic patterns of genderbased discrimination in which the de facto Government engages and wishes to reaffirm that such actions constitute violations of international human rights law. The restrictions imposed by the de facto authorities have institutionalized structural barriers facing women, youth, adolescents and girls, preventing them from effectively enjoying their rights to education, health and employment, while restricting their freedom of movement, participation in public life and access to justice. We likewise express our deep concern at the adoption of the decree on the rules of criminal procedure for courts, which expands the categories of offences punishable by death, provides for the imposition of corporal punishment for numerous offences and contains provisions that violate freedom of religion and freedom of expression. Moreover, this legislation contributes to the impunity of those responsible for genderbased violence through its repeal of penalties for acts that constitute gender-based violence. It is unacceptable that the de facto authorities continue to bar female United Nations staff from United Nations premises. Not only does that violate the rights and freedoms of women, it also affects their humanitarian needs, which continue to increase in a situation in which resources, including those aimed at the needs of the female returnee population, are limited. Afghans have returned to Afghanistan from neighbouring countries in large numbers. In that connection, we echo the Secretary- General’s call for returns to be voluntary, safe and dignified and include support for sustainable reintegration. The new cycles of violence, in which schools are no longer safe spaces, especially for children, and in which hospitals are attacked, have exacerbated the vulnerability of a large part of the population, including returnees. The loss of civilian lives and the deterioration of civilian infrastructure owing to attacks and clashes affecting the Afghan people cannot continue. In this regard, Colombia calls for rapid, safe, sustained and unhindered humanitarian access to be guaranteed, in accordance with international law, so that humanitarian personnel, including the women who do this work, can provide the essential assistance and services required by the civilian population. We recall that respecting and ensuring respect for international law, in all circumstances and without exception, is an obligation that includes protecting the civilian population and infrastructure critical to their survival, as well as humanitarian personnel. Colombia supports the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan, which is necessary for achieving a peaceful and inclusive Afghanistan for the benefit of all Afghan people. We call on the de facto authorities to collaborate in a more structured manner with the Mission and to end the ongoing and systematic discrimination against women and girls, which deprives half of their population of their rights and dignity and violates the country’s obligations under international human rights law.

I would like to extend my utmost appreciation to Ms. Georgette Gagnon, Deputy Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Afghanistan, and the staff of the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) for their valuable work, especially as the conditions in which the Mission operates become increasingly difficult. I would like to raise three points. First, over four years, the Taliban have only further tightened their grip, becoming more oppressive and showing no progress, not even on the commitments they previously said they would pursue. The situation of women and girls in Afghanistan is unprecedented in its severity and is utterly unacceptable. Nowhere else in the world do we see such widespread, systematic restrictions imposed on half of a country’s population. What Afghan women face today is not a series of isolated restrictions. Since 2021, at least 118 discriminatory edicts against women and girls have been issued. It is a system of control that has become institutionalized and reaches into every area of life — education, work, movement, healthcare, public space and even the right to speak or be seen. And it is difficult to imagine how banning women from public space, education and healthcare would somehow let Afghanistan become a peaceful and prosperous country. There is no chance that that can happen. The Taliban are now building a legal framework that erases women’s safety and dignity, and let me illustrate this. Under the newly introduced decree on the criminal rules of courts, even severe violence against a wife is treated as a minor offence. Article 32 of the decree makes this painfully clear: “If a husband beats his wife so severely that it results in a broken bone or an open wound or a black and blue wound appears on her body and the wife appeals to a judge, then the husband will be considered an offender. A judge should sentence him to 15 days’ imprisonment.” This tells every Afghan woman that her suffering is worth only 15 days of punishment, and only if she can show visible wounds while being forced to cover her body, and only if she can reach a judge while being accompanied by a male guardian who may well be her tormentor. And it tells every perpetrator that violence carries almost no cost. It is hard to see a starker illustration of the complete absence of access to justice, especially today, as the Commission on the Status of Women opens its seventieth session, with a focus on this very issue, and as we underscore the urgency of “rights, justice, action” on International Women’s Day. At the same time, Afghanistan is faced with one of the world’s most severe humanitarian crises, with more than 21 million Afghans requiring humanitarian aid. Ensuring unimpeded humanitarian access must remain a priority. And yet, even as these needs grow, the Taliban’s ban on Afghan female staff accessing United Nations premises is still in place and has been enforced since 7 September 2025, despite the very explicit condemnation of this decision by the international community. That is a clear violation of the Charter of the United Nations and a direct obstacle to aid delivery, as Afghan women’s work is indispensable to reaching women and girls. We demand that the Taliban reverse all these heinous policies immediately. Secondly, Latvia supports the United Nations-led Doha process and the facilitation of a united approach to address the situation in Afghanistan. This process should include non-Taliban Afghans and the full, equal and meaningful participation of women, as well as civil society, allowing them to take part in setting the agenda, as it is the future of their country that is at stake. In that regard, the timely appointment of the new Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Afghanistan to lead on the political process is crucial, and so is the renewal of a strong UNAMA mandate, which Latvia fully supports. Thirdly, not only have the Taliban failed to make any progress on human rights, but we also continue to witness further backsliding in other areas. A wide range of terrorist groups operate in and from Afghanistan, with varying degrees of autonomy and oversight from the Taliban. This situation poses a clear threat to international peace and security. The burden is entirely on the Taliban to take concrete and measurable steps to reverse this trajectory. The Afghan territory must not be used to threaten or attack other countries. In the light of the ongoing hostilities on the border between Afghanistan and Pakistan, we join the calls for restraint, for the protection of civilians to remain an absolute priority, for all feasible precautions to be taken to prevent further civilian harm and for humanitarian assistance to be enabled. The world shall not look the other way as the Taliban continue erasing half of Afghanistan’s population and actually getting away with it. We therefore call on the international community to remain vigilant and to stand in steadfast support of the people of Afghanistan, especially women and girls. Latvia will do so.

I now give the floor to the representative of Afghanistan.

Let me begin by congratulating you, Madam President, on assuming the presidency of the Security Council and for your leadership during the month of March. I also thank you for convening this important meeting on the situation in Afghanistan. We also appreciate the strong joint press stakeout statement issued prior to this meeting. I am grateful to the Deputy Special Representative of the Secretary- General, Ms. Gagnon, for her detailed briefing. I thank the previous speakers for reaffirming their support for the people of Afghanistan, particularly women and girls. Yesterday marked International Women’s Day — an important moment to reflect on the challenges faced by millions of women around the world. I wish to pay tribute to the courage and determination of all women, especially the women of Afghanistan, who are engaged in a historic struggle for freedom, justice and lasting peace. The most meaningful way to honour their commitment and sacrifice is to support their efforts to reclaim their rightful place in society and in the international community. In five months, it will have been five years since the Taliban imposed their rule in Afghanistan. It is now evident to the international community and to the Security Council that during this period the Taliban have taken no meaningful steps towards change, moderation or engagement with the realities and needs of the people of Afghanistan. On the contrary, their policies have grown increasingly rigid, exclusionary and repressive. Afghanistan continues to face a profound social, humanitarian, economic and political crisis, a crisis that is the direct result of the Taliban’s policies and governance based on repression and intimidation. The systematic deprivation of women and girls of their fundamental rights and freedoms, the dismantling of inclusive institutions, widespread human rights violations, targeted killings of former security forces and civilians accused of armed opposition, rising poverty and deepening despair have collectively pushed Afghanistan towards isolation and towards the brink. Women and girls have effectively been erased from public life. Civic space has collapsed. Economic structures have deteriorated dramatically. An entire generation is being denied education and opportunity. These are not unintended consequences; they are the foreseeable results of deliberate policy choices. The United Nations, international partners and donor countries have played a crucial role in preventing a large-scale humanitarian catastrophe, and we express our sincere appreciation, despite the many challenges and impediments. However, humanitarian assistance is not a sustainable solution. It cannot substitute for political legitimacy, responsible governance, or sustainable economic recovery. The recent decline in humanitarian funding, against a backdrop of persistent and growing needs, is deeply alarming. The Taliban, who were themselves a primary driver of instability over the past two decades, now speak of bringing security and stability. Yet their actions tell a very different story. A nation has effectively been pushed into isolation and taken hostage by a male-dominated group ruling through coercion, centralized authority and a distorted interpretation of Islam, against the will of the Afghan people. The proliferation of radical madrasas, the suppression of inclusive education, the consolidation of power through repression, kidnapping and hostage-taking of Afghan and international citizens, and the continued links with and presence of international terrorist groups on Afghanistan’s soil are creating dangerous conditions for insecurity and instability in Afghanistan, in the region and beyond. Contrary to the commitments made under the Doha Agreement, the Taliban have provided a permissive environment for international terrorist groups. This was once again confirmed in the sixteenth report of the Analytical Support and Sanctions Monitoring Team (S/2025/796). This endangers, first and foremost, the people of Afghanistan and poses a serious threat to regional and international security. We are already witnessing the dangerous spillover of these dynamics. The continued Pakistani air strikes since 22 February have resulted in civilian casualties and escalating tensions, with exchanges of artillery, drones and ground assaults. According to the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA), as of 7 March, there have been at least 185 civilian casualties, 55 per cent of whom were women and children. Such actions are unacceptable and must come to an immediate halt. Let me be clear: just as the Taliban do not represent Afghanistan, its people, its culture, or its authentic Islamic values, the violence arising from their policies, including the harbouring of terrorist groups, does not represent the will of the Afghan nation. As we stated in our official complaint submitted to the Council on 22 February (S/2026/87), we call on the Council to address this aggression and urge Pakistan to immediately cease strikes against civilian areas and vital infrastructure in Afghanistan, including facilities representing two decades of investment by the Afghan people and international partners. Such actions constitute a violation of territorial integrity and the principles of the Charter of the United Nations, international law and the norms of goodneighbourly relations. We unequivocally condemn terrorism in all its forms, including its instrumentalization and sponsorship and the provision of safe havens. Terrorism is our common enemy. Counter-terrorism must be genuine, non-selective and grounded in a comprehensive strategy consistent with international law. The Afghan people have suffered from terrorism for decades and must not once again become victims of irresponsible and politicized policies and proxy wars. Combating terrorism in Afghanistan can only be achieved through a responsible, legitimate and inclusive Government, one that reflects the will of the Afghan people and honours Afghanistan’s international obligations. After five years, the status quo in Afghanistan is neither acceptable nor sustainable. Efforts under so-called pragmatic engagement to normalize or accommodate this reality will not bring peace, stability, or prosperity. What is needed now is a renewed and coordinated international engagement under the leadership of the United Nations, with the support of the Council, to facilitate the emergence of a legitimate and inclusive political and constitutional order, grounded in the will and aspirations of the Afghan people. Any essential engagement with the Taliban must remain principled and conditional, linked to measurable progress on human rights, inclusive governance and counter-terrorism. Accountability mechanisms, including the Independent Investigative Mechanism for Afghanistan in Geneva, and humanitarian and economic assistance to the Afghan people must be supported. In this regard, the role of UNAMA remains essential. As we consider the renewal of its mandate, we express appreciation to the UNAMA team for its continued efforts and support the extension of its mandate. At the same time, a strong and effective mandate, together with the appointment of a capable, impartial and dedicated Special Representative of the Secretary-General, committed to human rights principles, will be critical to ensuring the balanced implementation of all three pillars of the mandate, including the political component. The Security Council has a central responsibility. What is required is a unified, principled and coherent approach. Only through such an approach can we help to create the conditions for the emergence of a responsible, accountable and inclusive Government that respects the fundamental rights of all Afghans, including women and girls, and fulfils Afghanistan’s international obligations. Allow me to conclude by outlining what the people of Afghanistan seek. They seek a country in which every child can go to school. They seek a system in which women can work, learn and live with dignity. They seek accountability for those who torture, execute and oppress — not impunity. They seek counter-terrorism measures that are principled and lawful, not selective and politicized. They seek governance that reflects Afghanistan’s diversity, not one that excludes. These are the aspirations of the Afghan people. These are universal rights. These are the commitments Afghanistan accepted when it joined this Organization on 19 November 1946. We committed ourselves to faith in fundamental human rights, in the dignity and worth of the human person and in the equal rights of men and women. And those commitments do not expire because the Taliban say so. The people of Afghanistan, who have endured decades of conflict and hardship, deserve peace, dignity, justice and hope. Our collective responsibility is to stand with them and ensure that Afghanistan moves towards enduring peace, stability and prosperity.

I now give the floor to the representative of India.

I congratulate the United States for assuming the presidency of the Council and thank you, Madam President, for giving me the floor. I thank Ms. Georgette Gagnon, the Head of Mission of the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) and Deputy Representative of the Secretary-General, for her briefing. India has deep rooted and civilizational bonds with our contiguous neighbour, Afghanistan. Our history of close ties continues to guide us in the current context, a situation in which the proud people of Afghanistan need the world’s assistance. Over the years, India has continued to strongly advocate for peace and stability that could aid development in Afghanistan. Our participation in the Doha working group meetings underlines this commitment. India prioritizes capacity-building and humanitarian assistance initiatives for the Afghan people. With more than 500 development partnership projects spread across all 34 provinces of Afghanistan, we are deepening our engagement in healthcare, public infrastructure and capacity-building. We continue to work with United Nations agencies and agencies such as the Afghan Red Crescent Society on food security, healthcare, education and sports. The visits of Afghan ministers last year have helped us to ensure that this aid is reaching those who need it the most. Since the most recent briefing in December 2025 (see S/PV.10058), India has made significant progress in advancing healthcare support for Afghanistan. Development projects previously approved, including the establishment of a thalassemia centre, an oncology centre, a trauma centre and a modern diagnostic centre, the replacement of the heating system at the Indira Gandhi Institute of Child Health and the construction of a 30-bed hospital — all in Kabul — as well as the construction of five maternity health clinics in Paktika, Khost and Paktiya, are progressing steadily. In the past three months, which is the reporting period of the Secretary-Generals’ report (S/2026/99), India delivered more than 1 million doses of immunization vaccines for children and 9.5 tons of anti-cancer medicine. In the coming months, we aim to deliver more than 17 million additional doses of preventive vaccines to further strengthen Afghanistan’s national immunization programme. This is India’s investment in the future of Afghanistan. Over the past four and a half years, my country has supplied 50,000 tons of wheat, 380 tons of medicines and vaccines and 40,000 litres of pesticides. Following the two earthquakes last year, India was among the first to provide humanitarian assistance, to the tune of 60 tons of food items, 42 tons of earthquake relief materials and 73 tons of essential medicines. In partnership with the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, we have provided 68 tons of medical supplies and 32 tons of social support items for the rehabilitation of drug addicts. In the field of education, our scholarship and fellowship schemes for Afghan students are always in demand. Since 2023, approximately 3,000 students have availed themselves of these opportunities, including 1,000 Afghan women. India continues to provide financial and logistical support to Afghan self-help groups led by women. On the bright side, any visitor to Afghanistan today would see Afghan youth enthusiastically playing cricket. The Afghanistan cricket team has been winning hearts wherever they have been playing, and their spirit and passion in the just-concluded cricket world cup was notable. My nation is proud to be part of their journey and happy to see them bring immense joy to the people of Afghanistan, who are enduring so much. We take note of the Secretary-General’s report on the situation in Afghanistan, especially the dire humanitarian concerns and the rising implications for the country due to the unprecedented scale and pace of forced and involuntary returns under adverse circumstances. Acute food insecurity and climate and natural hazards have led to 45 per cent of the population requiring humanitarian assistance this year — a dire situation that needs the world’s attention. These significant vulnerabilities necessitate more efforts towards addressing food security, healthcare, water security and other shelter-related challenges. The returnees need to be provided with housing, basic services and livelihoods. We add our voice to the Secretary-General’s call for Member States to uphold their international obligations in relation to protection, including the principle of non-refoulement, and to ensure that returns are voluntary, safe, dignified and accompanied by sustained support for the reintegration of returnees into communities. The Secretary-General’s report also expresses deep concern at civilian casualties caused by cross-border armed violence. We reiterate and support the Secretary- General’s call urging compliance with obligations under international law, including international humanitarian law, and the protection of civilians. India strongly condemns the air strikes on Afghan territory, which are flagrant violations of international law, the Charter of the United Nations and the principle of State sovereignty. It is hypocritical to espouse lofty principles of international law and Islamic solidarity on the one hand, while, on the other, mercilessly carrying out air strikes during the holy month of Ramadan, which have killed 185 innocent civilians as of 6 March, approximately 55 per cent of whom were women and children, and have displaced more than 100,000, according to the UNAMA. We also reiterate our grave concern about the practice of trade and transit terrorism by the denial of passage for trade and the cynical closure of access to a landlocked country. United Nations declarations on landlocked developing countries (LLDCs) sound hollow in the face of such actions. The trade and transit vulnerabilities of LLDCs should not be weaponized. This is a violation of World Trade Organization norms, the United Nations Charter and international law. While we condemn these acts, we reaffirm our support for the territorial integrity, sovereignty and independence of Afghanistan. Terrorism remains a global scourge afflicting humankind, and only the coordinated efforts of the international community will ensure that ISIL, Al-Qaida and their affiliates, including Lashkar-e-Tayyiba (LeT), Jaish-i-Mohammed and the proxies of LeT such as The Resistance Front, along with those who facilitate their operations no longer indulge in cross-border terrorism. Well over four years have passed since the political reality of Afghanistan changed. India reiterates the importance of incentivizing positive actions. In this context, the current United Nations sanctions regime related to Afghanistan must take into account contemporary realities. We call on the United Nations and the international community to shun this business-as-usual approach and adopt nimble policy instruments that bring sustainable benefits for the Afghan people, who have endured suffering for so long. India reiterates its commitment to strengthening our engagement with all stakeholders in bilateral, regional and multilateral formats. India will always stand for the priorities and aspirations of Afghan society and will always support the people of Afghanistan.

I now give the floor to the representative of the Islamic Republic of Iran.

I thank Deputy Special Representative Gagnon for her briefing. We take note of the Secretary-General’s latest report on the situation in Afghanistan (S/2026/99) and the activities of the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA). The report confirms that despite the continued efforts of UNAMA and United Nations agencies, Afghanistan remains confronted with complex and multidimensional challenges, including a deteriorating humanitarian situation, growing security concerns, restrictions affecting women and girls and the persistent threat of terrorism. As highlighted by the Deputy Special Representative of the Secretary-General in her briefing, despite these challenges, the de facto authorities have taken positive steps to improve the situation and support economic recovery. These efforts deserve recognition and should be acknowledged by the international community. In this context, I wish to underline the following points. First, we remain deeply concerned about the worsening humanitarian and economic conditions in Afghanistan. Nearly half the country’s population — more than 21 million people — are projected to require humanitarian assistance this year. We echo the Secretary-General’s call on donors to provide increased, predictable and flexible funding to sustain life-saving humanitarian operations. Humanitarian assistance must never be politicized. Sanctions must not hinder Afghanistan’s economic recovery and stabilization, and Afghan national assets frozen abroad should be released without delay so that they can be used to address the urgent needs of the Afghan people. Secondly, the continuation of international engagement with the de facto authorities remains essential for advancing stability in Afghanistan. Meaningful and pragmatic engagement is necessary to address the humanitarian and economic crises and to promote responsible governance. In this context, initiatives such as the Doha process can provide an important platform for dialogue and cooperation on key issues, including counter-narcotics and economic development. Iran has actively and meaningfully participated in the working groups on counter-narcotics and the private sector held on 3 and 9 February. As part of this process, in this regard, Iran welcomes the report on the reduction in opium cultivation in Afghanistan. However, without effective support for alternative crops and sustainable livelihoods for Afghan farmers, many may be forced, out of economic necessity, to return to opium cultivation. Thirdly, the continued deprivation of women and girls of their rights to education and employment in Afghanistan is a matter of serious concern. Such restrictions on education, employment and public participation are incompatible with the teachings of Islam and human dignity. We call on the de facto authorities to reverse these restrictions. However, we believe that constructive engagement remains the most effective path to promote responsible conduct and uphold human rights, including the rights of ethnic groups and women. Fourthly, the threat posed by terrorist groups in Afghanistan remains a grave concern. Afghanistan must not become a haven for terrorism. Likewise, the territory of Afghanistan must not be used to threaten or harm other States, especially neighbours. At the same time, military escalation and cross-border hostilities are deeply concerning and risk further destabilizing the region. Dialogue and diplomatic engagement remain the only viable path to addressing these tensions. We call on all parties to exercise restraint and to resolve their differences through diplomatic solutions and peaceful means. Fifthly, neighbouring countries and countries in the region remain on the front line in terms of bearing the consequences of the situation in Afghanistan. At the same time, regional initiatives and cooperation mechanisms among neighbouring countries play an indispensable role in supporting sustainable peace, security and stability in Afghanistan. The Islamic Republic of Iran shares a long border with Afghanistan and, for more than four decades, has hosted millions of Afghan nationals. During this time, Iran has provided Afghan refugees with access to education, healthcare and other essential services. This long-standing commitment reflects Iran’s continued dedication to supporting the Afghan people and promoting stability and security in Afghanistan and the wider region. Yet, the ongoing, unprovoked and unjustified war of aggression launched by the United States and the Israeli regime on 28 February against the Islamic Republic of Iran has created a grave and dangerous situation for civilians. This war of aggression has involved deliberate attacks and targeting of civilian and civilian infrastructure in densely populated areas, especially across several major Iranian cities, in which millions of Afghan nationals also reside. Finally, UNAMA continues to play a vital and indispensable role in addressing Afghanistan’s complex challenges and supporting the Afghan people. We reaffirm our support for extending the mandate of UNAMA and for the effective and impartial implementation thereof. Iran stands ready to continue close cooperation with the United Nations, countries of the region and all relevant stakeholders to promote stability, security and a better future for Afghanistan.

The representative of Pakistan has asked for the floor to make a further statement.

I have been compelled to take the floor again after listening to the remarks by the representatives of Afghanistan and India. The so-called representative of Afghanistan, who in effect does not represent anyone but himself, must not abuse this forum to pursue his personal agenda. Sequestered in New York, Mr. Faiq — my friend — is completely cut off from realities on the ground, and he chose to selectively comment on some aspects of the situation, particularly with reference to Pakistan. Therefore, the value and credibility of his remarks are in serious doubt. Pakistan’s legitimate counter-terrorism operations are not directed against the brotherly people of Afghanistan and are only meant to neutralize the persistent threat of terrorism emanating from Afghan soil, and our actions are in full conformity with the right to self-defence and international humanitarian law. Consequently, it was not surprising that Mr. Faiq had nothing to say about the crossborder terrorism from Afghanistan that is having such a heavy impact on Pakistan in terms of casualties among civilians and among our armed forces, law enforcement agencies and infrastructure. Also, given India’s animosity towards Pakistan and given that the sole objective of its Afghan policy is to destabilize Pakistan, including by actively supporting and sponsoring terrorist groups operating from Afghan soil, such as Tehrik-e Taliban Pakistan and the Balochistan Liberation Army, the remarks of the Indian representative come as no surprise. India’s representative deliberated at length on the security situation in Afghanistan. He mentioned civilian casualties and border clashes but had not a word to say about the terrorist threat emanating from Afghanistan, which has targeted Pakistan and which many Council members have highlighted in their statements. But there is a reason for that. It is India’s complicity in all of this. We have provided irrefutable evidence of India’s collusion with terrorist groups that are engaged in orchestrating violent attacks against Pakistan. One can sense India’s pain in seeing its heavy investment in the Afghan terrorist franchise going to waste as a result of Pakistan’s precise and effective action against terrorist camps and support bases inside Afghanistan. And the world needs no lectures from a serial violator of international law like India — a State that illegally occupies territory, violates the Charter of the United Nations and Security Council resolutions, perpetrates State terrorism in the Indian illegally occupied Jammu and Kashmir and beyond, systematically marginalizes its minorities, spreads hate, even weaponizes water with the express goal of starving Pakistan’s population and continues to use disinformation as a State policy. And the list goes on. Therefore, while India has always played the role of spoiler in Afghanistan, Pakistan has engaged responsibly in promoting peace, stability and prosperity in Afghanistan. But these goals can only be promoted if the Taliban regime fulfils its commitments with respect to counter-terrorism, inclusive governance and upholding the rights of Afghan women and girls — three key areas that were highlighted by Council members in today’s discussion. India, in particular, must cease and desist from its policy of stoking terrorism inside Pakistan from Afghan soil, now together with its newfound friends in the Taliban regime. While India has long played this dangerous game, we will not allow its sabotage and subversion from Afghan soil to threaten and harm Pakistan.

The representative of India has asked for the floor to make a further statement. I now give him the floor.

I could not have expected anything better from the esteemed representative of Pakistan. The laundry list that is regurgitated ad nauseum at every meeting of the Council and wastes the time of this body is well known. I reiterate what I said in my statement. India’s assistance is directed at the friendly people of Afghanistan. What we have done in Afghanistan is known to the people of Afghanistan and to the international community. I need add no further comment. As far as problems in Pakistan are concerned, Pakistan would do well to look in the mirror and look at problems within rather than blame my country for what it is facing.

The representative of Afghanistan has asked for the floor to make a statement. I now give him the floor.

I just wanted to react and to take the floor to respond to the remarks made by my dear friend, Ambassador Ahmad. I just wanted to echo the fact that the current status quo in Afghanistan is born of the wrong policies of our neighbouring countries, in particular those who supplied the same groups and supported them in the past two decades. We hope that the current situation can be a good opportunity to learn from past experiences and to correct policies. We have to fight and combat terrorism without any distinction. We condemned in our statement that terrorism is a common enemy, and we should always fight against terrorism without any distinction. Terrorist groups are all the same. The situation in Afghanistan today is such that we share the suffering of our neighbouring countries, particularly Pakistan and the people of Pakistan, but over the past two decades, the Afghan people have also suffered the same situation every day, with suicide attacks, bomb attacks and civilians being targeted by the same terrorist groups. We have always turned to the Council, condemned the terrorism and asked our neighbouring countries to fight against terrorism without any distinction. That is something that we wanted to share. We are hopeful that the current situation can really provide an opportunity to create a legitimate Government that is committed to international obligations and the protection of the rights of the Afghan people and that can help to create a State so that the Afghan people can live in peace with themselves and with their neighbouring countries.

There are no more names inscribed on the list of speakers. I now invite Council members to informal consultations to continue our discussion on the subject.