United Nations, Afghanistan’s Ambassador to the United Nations Ghulam M. Isaczai has criticised the government announced by the Taliban in Kabul as “anything but inclusive” and urged the UN to reject the reinstatement of the Islamic Emirate and hold the Taliban to account for their violations of human rights.
“As I speak and today, the Taliban announced their government. It is anything but inclusive,” Ghulam Isaczai, who is the Permanent Representative of Afghanistan to the UN, said.
“The people of Afghanistan, especially our youth who have only known a free and democratic Afghanistan, will not accept a governing structure that excludes women and minorities, eliminate constitutional rights for all and does not protect the gains of the past,” he said in his remarks at the UN General Assembly Hall at the high-level forum on the Culture of Peace, I.
“We ask all member states of the United Nations to help us promote a culture of peace in Afghanistan. We ask that you continue to reject the reinstatement of the Islamic Emirate, hold the Taliban to account for their violation of international human rights and humanitarian law, insist on an inclusive government and draw a fundamental red line regarding Taliban’s treatment of women and girls and respect for their rights,” he said.
He later tweeted, pointing out that 17 of the 33 Taliban cabinet members are on the UN sanctions list. “This includes their interim PM, 2 Deputy PMs, Interior, Defense and Foreign Affairs.
“The UN SC still wields enormous leverage to ensure an inclusive govt, including with the presence of women and freely elected by people,” he tweeted.
The Taliban on Tuesday announced a Council of Ministers to be headed by Mullah Hasan Akhund, who figures on the UN Sanctions List as a proscribed terrorist, like a number of Ministers in his caretaker government.
Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar, a co-founder of the Islamist group and also on the UN proscribed list, will be one of the Deputies of Akhund.
Sirajuddin Haqqani, son of the founder of dreaded Haqqani terror group Jallaluddin Haqqani, was named the Interior Minister. He is wanted by the FBI and has a $10 million bounty on his head.
Amir Khan Mottaqi who has been named Minister of Foreign Affairs also figures on the UN terror list.
“The people of Afghanistan, especially our youth who have only known a free and democratic Afghanistan, will not accept a governing structure that excludes women and minorities, eliminate constitutional rights for all and does not protect the gains of the past,” said Isaczai.
“The Taliban must realise that pacification of the country and true peace can only be established if they pursue an inclusive and participatory government in Afghanistan,” he added.
Last month, in his address at the UN Security Council before the Taliban had captured power in Afghanistan, Isaczai had pointed the blame squarely on Pakistan for providing the Taliban a safe haven and supply of logistics.
(EW correspondent)
