Resolution 2679 - Afghans Have Once Again Fallen for UN's Empty Promises
On The Legacy of UN's Letdowns in Afghanistan
“Insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results.”
- Albert Einstein
Hollow Commitments
As the United Nations (UN) prepares for yet another meeting on Afghanistan, scheduled for 18th and 19th February 2024, a sense of déjà vu envelops the political landscape of this war-torn nation. This meeting, like many before, raises an important question:
Can the UN truly influence positive change in Afghanistan, or is it a case of hope against hope for the people of Afghanistan?
Historically, the UN’s role in Afghanistan has been marked by a series of well-intentioned failures and apparent impotence in the face of relentless conflict and political instability. From the turbulent times following the Saur Revolution in 1978, through the Soviet invasion and subsequent withdrawal, to the rise and fall of the Taliban and the American intervention, the UN’s presence and efforts have often seemed like a drop in the ocean of Afghanistan’s complex and multifaceted crises.
It’s high time to question the UN’s liability in the current Afghan predicament. The continuous reliance on the UN by Afghanistan’s politicians appears increasingly naïve, fostering a false sense of security in the hope that international pressure could sway the rigid stance of the Taliban. This misplaced trust overlooks a stark reality: the UN’s historical track record in Afghanistan does not inspire confidence in its ability to enact meaningful change.
Therefore, the upcoming Doha meeting, amidst rising concerns about the healthcare crisis and human rights abuses, especially against women, may seem like a beacon of hope, but given the UN’s past inefficiencies and the complex geopolitical landscape of Afghanistan, skepticism is not unwarranted. The UN’s role in Afghanistan has been a journey of lofty goals crashing against the harsh rocks of ground realities. For the Afghan people, enduring decades of conflict, suffering and instability, hope in the UN might be an illusion they can no longer afford.
A Saga of Missed Opportunities
In the grand theater of international diplomacy, the UN’s role in Afghanistan has been akin to a tragic play, full of sound and fury, signifying nothing. The organisation’s track record in the country is a litany of missed opportunities and hollow promises, underscoring its ineffectiveness in navigating the complex political and social fabric of Afghanistan.
Let’s dissect some examples. The Geneva Accords of 1988, brokered by the UN, exemplify a fundamental misstep. Although they facilitated the Soviet withdrawal, they failed to ensure a stable post-conflict government, leading to a power vacuum and igniting a devastating civil war. I remember because I was in Kabul during this hellish time.
It was UN’s inability to foster a cohesive and inclusive political process in the aftermath of the Soviet exit laid the groundwork for the chaos that ensued.
Kabul, my hometown, was utterly destroyed. Thousands were killed. Millions fled.
Fast forward to the 1990s, the Taliban’s first regime, and the UN’s response was tepid at best. Despite clear violations of human rights and the brutal suppression of women, the UN’s actions were largely limited to ineffective sanctions and half-hearted condemnations, doing little to alter the Taliban’s course or improve the lot of the Afghan people.
The Bonn Agreement of 2001, another UN-led initiative, promised a new dawn for Afghanistan. But again, the UN’s inability to enforce the agreement and ensure a sustainable, inclusive government paved the way for renewed conflict and instability. The subsequent two decades of international intervention, with the UN playing a key role, culminated not in lasting peace, but in the chaotic and humiliating withdrawal of foreign troops in 2021, leaving Afghanistan in the throes of a humanitarian crisis.
In my view, the fall of the Afghan Republic in August 2021 is a clear testament to the UN’s inability to leverage any real change or stability in the region. Despite decades of involvement, the organization failed to prevent the deterioration of the situation, particularly in protecting the rights gained by Afghan women during the 20-year international presence. The rapidity with which these gains were reversed under the Taliban rule is a reminder of the UN’s limited influence in shaping the country’s trajectory.
Afghans Illusory Expectations of Change
I have never fully understood why the Afghan politicians, and indeed the broader population, still harbour any hope that the UN can be an agent of meaningful change.
Afghan people’s misplaced faith in the UN’s ability to influence the Taliban or address the incredible challenges facing the country is not just naive; it is a dangerous delusion that overlooks the striking realities of the past four decades.
The truth is bitter but necessary to confront:
The UN, for all its global stature, has been a passive observer in the Afghan saga, occasionally stepping in with resolutions and statements, but failing to enact any real change.
The truth is that UN’s engagement in Afghanistan has been a series of misjudgments and failures to understand the deep-seated tribal and political dynamics of the region. Its efforts, often seen as externally imposed solutions, have lacked the necessary depth and cultural sensitivity, resulting in policies that were either ineffective or outright counterproductive.
Moreover, its repeated failures have not only cost the Afghan people dearly but have also eroded the credibility of the UN as an effective international body capable of resolving conflicts and fostering peace.
As Afghanistan continues to grapple with its challenges, it is time to reassess the reliance on an organisation that has shown little capacity to navigate the complex realities of this troubled nation.
Resolution 2679
With the advent of UN Resolution 2679, we find ourselves yet again at a crossroads. Let’s be unequivocally clear:
There is little to no reason to harbor hope that this time will be different.
This resolution, like its predecessors, is poised to become another chapter in the UN’s anthology of unmet promises and ineffective strategies in a nation desperately seeking peace and stability.
As a student of Afghanistan’s tragic history, my stance remains one of deep skepticism, mirroring the sentiments that should resonate with the Afghan populace.
Am I the only one who observes the unmistakable pattern of high expectations followed by disillusionment?
The UN, with its track record of inadequacies in Afghanistan, hardly inspires confidence that it can now miraculously turn the tide. As such, it is prudent, if not imperative, to temper any optimism with a heavy dose of reality and common-sense.
I can’t help but conclude that the UN’s interventions in Afghanistan has been characterised more by their shortcomings than their successes.
It’s a somber reminder that hope, however fervent, must be grounded in the lessons of history, not the fleeting allure of rhetorical commitments. I hope that the people of Afghanistan finally realise this truth and start to ground their judgements on history rather than rhetoric and deception.