Statement by H.E. Ambassador ISHIKANE Kimihiro, Permanent Representative of Japan to the United Nations, at the United Nations Security Council Briefing, Agenda item “The situation in Afghanistan”
2023/9/26
(As delivered)
Thank you, Mr. President.
I would like to start by thanking Special Representative Otunbayeva and UN Women Executive Director Sami Bahous for providing an update on the situation. I also thank Ms. Karima Bennoune for her remarks.
More than two years have passed since the Taliban takeover in August 2021. It is truly regrettable that I have to say again in this chamber that we see little progress on issues of concern despite repeated calls by the Security Council and the international community. In Afghanistan, the humanitarian situation is becoming increasingly dire and the economy is stagnant. The restrictions of human rights, especially those of women and girls, have not been lifted.
We acknowledge that the Taliban has claimed achievements, such as improvement in the security situation and progress on counter-narcotics. However, those achievements are fragile unless the Taliban addresses the Afghan people’s suffering. The Security Council must continue to urge the Taliban to reverse its repressive human rights policies and prioritize its people. Especially, the restrictions on women and girls must be reversed and their full, equal, meaningful and safe participation must be realized as called for in Resolution 2681. At the same time, the international community should not isolate the Taliban as in 1990s, when the country became a hotbed of terrorism, but rather engage with them. We should be united in our approach to the Taliban.
Mr. President,
There is no change to the fact that the continued presence of UNAMA is critically important for the future of Afghanistan. We deeply appreciate that UNAMA has been addressing a wide range of matters by seriously engaging with relevant Afghan political actors and stakeholders. UNAMA also functions as a gateway to the outside world for the Taliban. Japan, as one of the co-penholders, remains supportive of UNAMA’s activities.
For our part, Japan continues to pursue patient, pragmatic and principled engagement with the Taliban in order to encourage them to change the course of their policies in the direction desired by the Afghan people.
Since we resumed operations in our Embassy in Kabul in September 2022, we have continuously urged the Taliban directly to remove its repressive policies and build a constructive relationship with the international community. We believe that building confidence with the Taliban is important in this process.
We are also using our presence on the ground to try to assist the population. In late August, Japan and the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) signed a cooperation document for a project to enhance agricultural production through community-led irrigation. The project expands on the efforts made by the Japanese physician Tetsu Nakamura and his aid group Peace Japan Medical Services (PMS) to bring back agriculture to farmlands abandoned over the last 20 years. Through this project, we hope to not only alleviate serious food shortages in the country, where water scarcity is an acute problem as described by the SRSG, but also to help the Afghan people rebuild their livelihoods and once again stand on their own feet.
By November, an independent assessment will be provided in accordance with Resolution 2679. We hope to receive forward-looking recommendations on how relevant political, humanitarian, and development actors can address the multifaceted challenges faced by the Afghan people in an integrated and coherent way.
In conclusion, I stress that Japan will continue to support the building of a peaceful, stable, and prosperous Afghanistan, and we are committed to the work of the Security Council to bring about a better future for the Afghan people.
I thank you.
I would like to start by thanking Special Representative Otunbayeva and UN Women Executive Director Sami Bahous for providing an update on the situation. I also thank Ms. Karima Bennoune for her remarks.
More than two years have passed since the Taliban takeover in August 2021. It is truly regrettable that I have to say again in this chamber that we see little progress on issues of concern despite repeated calls by the Security Council and the international community. In Afghanistan, the humanitarian situation is becoming increasingly dire and the economy is stagnant. The restrictions of human rights, especially those of women and girls, have not been lifted.
We acknowledge that the Taliban has claimed achievements, such as improvement in the security situation and progress on counter-narcotics. However, those achievements are fragile unless the Taliban addresses the Afghan people’s suffering. The Security Council must continue to urge the Taliban to reverse its repressive human rights policies and prioritize its people. Especially, the restrictions on women and girls must be reversed and their full, equal, meaningful and safe participation must be realized as called for in Resolution 2681. At the same time, the international community should not isolate the Taliban as in 1990s, when the country became a hotbed of terrorism, but rather engage with them. We should be united in our approach to the Taliban.
Mr. President,
There is no change to the fact that the continued presence of UNAMA is critically important for the future of Afghanistan. We deeply appreciate that UNAMA has been addressing a wide range of matters by seriously engaging with relevant Afghan political actors and stakeholders. UNAMA also functions as a gateway to the outside world for the Taliban. Japan, as one of the co-penholders, remains supportive of UNAMA’s activities.
For our part, Japan continues to pursue patient, pragmatic and principled engagement with the Taliban in order to encourage them to change the course of their policies in the direction desired by the Afghan people.
Since we resumed operations in our Embassy in Kabul in September 2022, we have continuously urged the Taliban directly to remove its repressive policies and build a constructive relationship with the international community. We believe that building confidence with the Taliban is important in this process.
We are also using our presence on the ground to try to assist the population. In late August, Japan and the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) signed a cooperation document for a project to enhance agricultural production through community-led irrigation. The project expands on the efforts made by the Japanese physician Tetsu Nakamura and his aid group Peace Japan Medical Services (PMS) to bring back agriculture to farmlands abandoned over the last 20 years. Through this project, we hope to not only alleviate serious food shortages in the country, where water scarcity is an acute problem as described by the SRSG, but also to help the Afghan people rebuild their livelihoods and once again stand on their own feet.
By November, an independent assessment will be provided in accordance with Resolution 2679. We hope to receive forward-looking recommendations on how relevant political, humanitarian, and development actors can address the multifaceted challenges faced by the Afghan people in an integrated and coherent way.
In conclusion, I stress that Japan will continue to support the building of a peaceful, stable, and prosperous Afghanistan, and we are committed to the work of the Security Council to bring about a better future for the Afghan people.
I thank you.