We cannot & must not abandon the people of Afghanistan. It’s time for the international community to stand, work & act together: We must speak with one voice to uphold human rights. We must unite to make sure Afghanistan is never again used as a safe haven for terrorists.
The UNO Secretary-General Antonio Guterres
A burning Afghanistan is again a slap on the face of humanity, justice, morality, democracy, dignity, and above all on the UNO which has failed to heal the wounds of the people of Afghanistan. The UNO has proved to be a rubber stamp concerning dealing with the heartbreaking situation of Afghanistan. Despite taking pragmatic and holistic strategies, the organization is bounded to only lip service.
There can be two possible observations regarding not playing the practical role of the UNO in Afghanistan. It is incompetent to figure out the emerging miseries of the improvised state or it has become a puppet organization in the hands of Uncle Sam for the fulfilment of its vested interests.
The preamble of the charter of the UNO looks like a charming gimmick for the people of Afghanistan. It holds that ” To reaffirm faith in fundamental human rights, in the dignity and worth of the human person, in the equal rights of men and women and nations large and small, and to establish conditions under which justice and respect for the obligations arising from treaties and other sources of international law can be maintained, and to promote social progress and better standards of life in larger freedom.
To practice tolerance and live together in peace with one another as good neighbours, and to unite our strength to maintain international peace and security, and to ensure, by the acceptance of principles and the institution of methods, that armed force shall not be used, save in the common interest, and to employ international machinery for the promotion of the economic and social advancement of all peoples”
Amid the prevailing situation in Afghanistan, it can be observed that all the above mention miseries defined in the preamble persist in present Afghanistan. The question arises of what steps the UNO has taken in resolving them. Yes. It has called two meetings of the security council which has issued press releases and then meeting end. Yes. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has warned the world about the panics of the Afghan. Only lip services. Nothing on the ground. No pragmatic strategy.
Article 13 says that “Promoting international co-operation in the political field and encouraging the progressive development of international law and its codification; promoting international co-operation in the economic, social, cultural, educational, and health fields, and assisting in the realization of human rights and fundamental freedoms for all without distinction as to race, sex, language, or religion” can we find any positive step of the UNO to compel the world community not to leave the Afghans on the mercy of the situation in devastation and deprivation. The answer is obviously no.
Being a member of the UNO Afghanistan deserved the deployment of the UNO peacekeeping forces in the presence of war, violence, and insecurity. Unfortunately, the UNO failed to do so. This is against its principles as it says about the peacekeeping that, ” Today’s multidimensional peacekeeping operations are called upon not only to maintain peace and security but also to facilitate the political process, protect civilians, assist in the disarmament, demobilization, and reintegration of former combatants; support the organization of elections, protect and promote human rights and assist in restoring the rule of law.”
At a juncture where the security, the institutions, the democracy, the political process, the peace, and the law are in danger – the UNO has shut its eyes on the deployment of the peacekeeping forces in Afghanistan.
The UNO its organ Security Council and many of its representatives feel the sensitivity of the Afghanistan quagmire and are aware of the consequences. In the meeting Security Council of 6th August 2021, Ms Deborah Lyons, the representative of the Secretary-General and the head of the UN mission in Afghanistan said, “As the Taliban offensive escalates, Afghanistan is reaching a dangerous point. An increasing brutal conflict combined with an acute humanitarian crisis and multiplying human rights abuses are simplifying.” These fears and warnings have not awoken the UNO from a deep slumber.
Afghanistan needs attention, peace, and stability. And being a member of the UNO it is the responsibility of this organization to help the Afghans and sort out a viable solution to the problems. Sadly, the organization has failed to play its rule – consequently, the Afghans are paying the price of the negligence and incompetence of the UNO.
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