The Afghan Institute for Strategic Studies held a roundtable discussion on ‘Assessing the UN Activities in Afghanistan’ in the past 40 years, particularly since 2001. The panel discussion was accompanied by Amb. Mahmoud Saikal, Former Permanent Representative of Afghanistan to United Nations, Toby Lanzer, Deputy Special Representative of UNAMA, Dr. Daoud Ali Najafi, former Minister of Transport, Dr. Abdula Qayyum Sajjadi, Member of Parliament, and Massouda Mehdizada, Deputy Program Manager for TVET-A for Wageningen University & Research, with moderation by Naser Sidiqee, AISS Fellow Researcher.
Mahmoud Saikal discussed the history of United Nations and its engagement in Afghanistan. He said that the sole purpose of establishment of United Nations Assistant Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) after 2001 was to coordinate implementation of the Bonn process. Adding that the UN came short in addressing the atrocities and grave human rights abuses of the Taliban, Amb. Saikal also discussed the reforms needed in the United Nations and the UN Security Council. At the end of his remarks, Amb. Saikal spoke about the role of the Afghan Government in the United Nations.
Dr. Daoud Ali Najafi spoke about the United Nation’s role in the political democratic process in Afghanistan. Dr. Najafi spoke about UN’s engagement and direct role in the first two rounds of elections in Afghanistan after 2001. He also discussed the way UN spent large amounts of funding on building capacity which could be spent on building infrastructure in Afghanistan.
Massouda Mehdizada spoke about the UN’s humanitarian assistance in Afghanistan, particularly health, education and government infrastructure. She also discussed the challenges the UN faces in establishing One UN (one-stop-shop) in Afghanistan. Ms. Mehdizada said that another major challenge of the UN in Afghanistan is ownership of its projects it implement in cooperation with the Afghan government.
Dr. Abdul Qayyum Sajjadi spoke about three theories about the role of International Organizations such as UN. He said that the UN in Afghanistan is seen from a third world perspective, which is accompanied by challenges and opportunities. One of the major challenges is the influence of world powers on the UN. Another challenge in terms of UN presence in Afghanistan is that the UN acts as a government over the host government.
Toby Lanzer acknowledged challenges and critics to the United Nations Assistance Mission to Afghanistan in Afghanistan. He said that despite challenges, the UN has had major achievements in Afghanistan. He said that the number of the children going to school, universal access to healthcare and major Afghan government infrastructure are part of the UN achievements in Afghanistan. He said that Afghanistan is facing other challenges today, namely, climate change and fast-growing Afghan population, which has to be addressed by the UN and Afghan government.
Toby Lanzer also discussed the Afghan Peace Process. He said that another country speaking with the Taliban in another country cannot forge peace in Afghanistan. Only an Intra-Afghan conversation can only forge sustainable peace in Afghanistan. Giving example of Belfast Good Friday Agreement, Toby Lanzer said peace brings many opportunities.
At the end of the program, the panel engaged in Q&A session with the audience.