Topic: 2024-Situation in Afghanistan
Country: Russian Federation (UNSC)
Delegate Name: Mason Pressler
Situation in Afghanistan-
Throughout the past two decades, over a hundred thousand civilians have been killed in the ongoing conflict in Afghanistan. Following the withdrawal of US forces and international troops in 2021, the Islamist Regime known as the Taliban has seen a great resurgence of power in the war torn nation. After the reinstatement of the Taliban, the situation has only continued to devolve. Due to the increase in military activity, thousands of people have been displaced and left hungry. Nearly six million Afghan people have been either displaced internally or fled the country. In March of 2022, 95% of Afghan households reported not having enough food to eat, and over three and a half million Afghan children needed nutrition support. Natural disasters caused by climate change have also exacerbated the humanitarian cost of this conflict, only increasing food insecurity and physical removal of civilians.
Though economic sanctions have been used profusely to combat the Taliban, these tariffs have taken a toll on Afghan civilians, and the nation is now in economic crisis on top of the social and armed conflicts as well as environmental and food crises. The Russian Federation believes in finding a solution to the conflict that both combats the Taliban’s human rights abuses while avoiding collateral damage to the Afghan people, this is no easy task. Russia has long recognized the Taliban as a terrorist group, but does not support western intervention in the region, nor do we believe sanctions on the nation have been effective at combating human rights violations.
Agricultural stabilization should be a key component of a multilateral solution to the conflict in Afghanistan as people continue to starve. The Food and Agriculture Organization of the UN (FAO) has already outlined plans for Afghanistan this year, including a push to increase self sufficiency in wheat production. Russia supports these efforts as well as increasing funding for the World Food Programme which has decreased support in Afghanistan due to budget shortfalls.
It is also the position of the Russian Federation that the installment of a western-backed puppet government will do nothing to help alleviate tensions in Afghanistan. Russia urges great consideration of humanitarian and diplomatic approaches in lieu of military action from both the UN and its members. After 20 years of unsuccessful and costly US occupation and the subsequent botched withdrawal from the nation, we know that this strategy is ineffective and does not ensure long-term stability.The situation remains dire, and it is clear that action should be taken, but the approach must be calculated and delicate to prevent further escalation.
