Media Center

New York / Media & Communication Dept./ November 18

The State of Qatar stressed its commitment to the stability, prosperity, peace of Afghanistan, while expressing alarm regarding the deteriorating humanitarian and economic conditions and violations of human rights, stressing that it is an active participant with the international community in the efforts of establishing peace and supporting developmental and humanitarian efforts in Afghanistan.
This came in the statement of the State of Qatar read out by Third Secretary of the Permanent delegation of the State of Qatar to the United Nations Sheikh Jassim bin Abdulaziz Al-Thani. The statement was read at the UN Security Council Arria-Formula Meetings to discuss the humanitarian situation in Afghanistan.
He said that the active participation of the State of Qatar in Afghanistan since its previous role in mediation has been driven by a commitment to help achieve peace and stability, and to address the humanitarian, economic, security and human rights challenges facing Afghans, for the benefit of Afghanistan and beyond.
He pointed to Qatar's active diplomatic and political efforts over many years in the context of facilitating negotiations between local and international parties to the conflict to end the war in Afghanistan. In this regard, Sheikh Jassim praised the successful efforts in announcing the historic joint US-Taliban agreement bringing peace to Afghanistan in February 2020, which was welcomed by the UN Security Council.
He referred to the current ongoing efforts represented in facilitating and strengthening channels of communication between international partners and the Afghan caretaker government, with regard to promoting peace, protecting civilians, providing humanitarian and development assistance, and protecting and promoting the political, economic and social rights of the Afghan people, including the rights of children, women and girls.
On humanitarian efforts, he said that the State of Qatar facilitated the evacuation of 80,000 people, including Afghans who were under serious threat as well as foreign nationals. He added that Qatar provided them with basic services including shelter and healthcare.
In this regard, the statement said that Qatar carried out airlifts in emergencies that delivered more than 800 tons of aid, highlighting the conference hosted by the State of Qatar in March 2022 in coordination with the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs along with Germany and the United Kingdom to alleviate the suffering of Afghans.
The State of Qatar stressed in its statement on the vital importance of humanitarian assistance in achieving sustainable peace, development, rehabilitation, and economic stability to Afghanistan. The statement called on all actors and stakeholders to adhere to international humanitarian principles and norms, warning against the politicization of humanitarian and development aid.
In this regard, Sheikh Jassim called on the Afghan caretaker government to show good faith in implementing the Doha peace document and meet the demands of the international community in relation to counter-terrorism and human rights, particularly the right of women and girl. He stressed that social and economic empowerment, as well as the integration of girls in all aspects of public life is vital for Afghanistan's political and economic future, highlighting that it was essential for the government to be inclusive to ensure the unity, stability, and prosperity of Afghanistan.