Afghanistan Freedom Front’s position on UNAMA’s “Comprehensive Approach” to Afghanistan

Introduction:

The United Nations has been one of the key actors in Afghanistan’s political and human rights affairs and, over the past half-century, has earned the trust of the Afghan people and various stakeholders in the country’s war and peace dynamics. However, UNAMA’s new proposal titled “A Comprehensive Approach to Afghanistan” has sparked widespread concern. According to the Afghanistan Freedom Front (AFF), this proposal obscures the prospects of sustainable peace in the country. The AFF firmly opposes any initiative that undermines the establishment of a government based on free, fair, and nationwide elections in Afghanistan and rejects any attempt to normalize or whitewash the Taliban regime. Regrettably, UNAMA’s recent actions have painted a distorted picture of the current realities in Afghanistan, overlooked critical issues, and excluded key political actors from the country’s complex political equation.

After a thorough and multi-dimensional review of the “Comprehensive Approach to Afghanistan,” the Afghanistan Freedom Front outlines its concerns as follows:

1. While Afghanistan under Taliban control suffers from widespread and systematic human rights violations, serial killings, gender apartheid, and rampant poverty, the UNAMA plan — although it addresses some current challenges — overlooks fundamental issues. It is reductionist and shortsighted, and the AFF considers it inadequate for resolving the increasing political, social, cultural, and economic problems in Afghanistan.

2. Limiting the key stakeholders in Afghanistan’s crisis to the Doha format, the illegitimate Taliban regime, and selected civil society representatives gravely undermines the prospect of a realistic and inclusive solution. This repeats the mistake of the 2001 Bonn Conference, where only the Taliban were excluded; in contrast, the new plan excludes all key political-military actors except the Taliban. Even if this leads to some superficial short-term outcomes, it will lack the durability and stability required, plunging Afghanistan once again into a vicious cycle of conflict and violence.

3. Unfortunately, the United Nations has not prioritized the root causes of Afghanistan’s prolonged conflict over the past fifty years. From the AFF’s perspective, Taliban-ruled Afghanistan is marked by three major characteristics that the UNAMA plan ignores:

• The Taliban’s lack of intent and willingness for peace or conflict resolution through an accountable and inclusive government based on the people’s will,
• Systematic, widespread, and organized human rights violations, including gender apartheid, ethnic, religious, and geographical discrimination, extrajudicial killings (especially of former security forces), and the suppression of civil and political freedoms,
• Ongoing and documented connections between the Taliban and international terrorist organizations, including Al-Qaeda, ISIS, Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), the East Turkistan Islamic Movement (ETIM), and others.

4. Providing financial, technical, and technological support to Taliban-controlled institutions by some UN member states — despite the Taliban’s lack of legitimacy and international recognition — and portraying a false image of security under Taliban rule is both misleading and dangerous. Afghanistan under Taliban control has become a safe haven for terrorists and a living hell for its people.

In light of the above, the AFF puts forward the following specific demands for establishing genuine peace and stability in Afghanistan:

1. The AFF calls for a comprehensive review of the United Nations’ approach to the Afghan crisis. Political inclusivity — the cornerstone of future stability in Afghanistan — must no longer be sidelined. The current frameworks, including the Doha process, do not reflect Afghanistan’s socio-political realities. A genuine and inclusive peace process requires the participation of all political and military stakeholders under the direct supervision of the United Nations to find just and logical solutions.

2. The establishment of a legitimate government based on the will and votes of the Afghan people is the AFF’s and the international community’s central goal. Such a government must reflect the structural diversity of Afghan society and guarantee equal rights and responsibilities for all citizens — regardless of ethnicity, language, religion, gender, or region. Any reconciliation process with the Taliban that disregards popular legitimacy and democratic governance is doomed to fail.

3. The international community must take active and effective measures to hold the Taliban accountable for their widespread human rights violations. The AFF demands the following steps to support the rights of women, ethnic groups, religious minorities, and other vulnerable populations:

• Establishment of independent international mechanisms to investigate and prosecute human rights abuses,
• Full and meaningful support for the UN Human Rights Council’s Special Rapporteur on Afghanistan, including guaranteed access for Mr. Richard Bennett to Taliban-controlled areas,
• Unrestricted support for civil society organizations documenting and reporting on Taliban abuses,
• Targeted sanctions against Taliban leaders, especially those in security institutions, found responsible for rights violations and abuses.

4. Any effort to normalize relations with the Taliban must be explicitly and tangibly conditioned on verifiable progress in the following areas:

Human Rights:

• Immediate and unconditional lifting of restrictions on women’s education and employment,
• Implementation of effective mechanisms for reporting and addressing human rights violations.

Inclusive Governance:

• Development of a framework for transitioning from Taliban rule to an accountable and inclusive government through free, independent, and nationwide elections,
• Creation of power-sharing structures that reflect Afghanistan’s ethnic and political diversity.

5. Appointment of a UN Special Envoy: The urgent appointment of a UN Special Envoy for Afghanistan — as per Security Council Resolution 2127 — is essential. This envoy must be appointed without delay and in coordination with all significant Afghan political forces.

6. Support for Armed Resistance Against Taliban Rule: Based on the internationally recognized right of nations to self-determination and the right to legitimate self-defense against tyranny, and considering the Taliban’s historical unwillingness to compromise in the absence of military pressure, the United Nations must support the Afghan people’s legitimate armed resistance. The AFF, as a credible, responsible political-military movement with broad societal support — particularly among former military personnel — presents itself as a reliable alternative for restoring legitimate, democratic governance and equitable power distribution in Afghanistan.

7. Reevaluation of the Doha Process: Given the outlined shortcomings, the Doha process must be reassessed in terms of content, participants, and venue. Peace talks should be relaunched with the inclusion of all relevant actors.

8. Frozen Assets Belong to the Afghan People: The Taliban, lacking both internal legitimacy and international credibility, have no authority over Afghanistan’s frozen assets abroad. No negotiations regarding these assets are valid until a legitimate and democratic government is established.

Conclusion:

A comprehensive and accountable peace process requires the inclusion of all parties involved and must address the root causes of conflict and crisis. The Afghanistan Freedom Front strongly urges the United Nations and the international community to reassess the current narrow and incomplete approach in coordination with all significant Afghan political-military forces. The AFF is ready to participate in meaningful dialogue aimed at establishing the rule of law and restoring democratic order and stability in Afghanistan. Otherwise, renewed instability and crisis in the country will be inevitable. Nevertheless, the AFF recognizes the crucial role the United Nations can play in shaping an acceptable future for Afghanistan. The responsibility for the future will lie with those who, ignoring past and present realities, continue to impose misguided prescriptions on the country.