UN / AFGHANISTAN
22-Jun-2021
00:03:52
The UN’s top diplomat in Afghanistan Deborah Lyons said more than 50 Afghanistan’s 370 districts have fallen to the Taliban since the beginning of May, most of which surround provincial capitals, “suggesting that the Taliban are positioning themselves to try and take these capitals once foreign forces are fully withdrawn.” UNIFEED
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STORY: UN / AFGHANISTAN
TRT: 3:52
SOURCE: UNIFEED
RESTRICTIONS: NONE
LANGUAGE: ENGLISH / NATS
DATELINE: 22 JUNE 2021, NEW YORK CITY
TRT: 3:52
SOURCE: UNIFEED
RESTRICTIONS: NONE
LANGUAGE: ENGLISH / NATS
DATELINE: 22 JUNE 2021, NEW YORK CITY
SHOTLIST
FILE – NEW YORK CITY
1. Wide shot, UN headquarters exterior
22 JUNE 2021, NEW YORK CITY
2. Multiple screens, participants in virtual Security Council meeting
3. SOUNDBITE (English) Deborah Lyons, Special Representative of the Secretary-General and Head of the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA):
“The mid-April announcement that all international troops will be withdrawn in the coming months sent a seismic tremor through the Afghan political system and society at large. The withdrawal decision was expected but its speed—with the majority of troops now already withdrawn—was not. All actors have had to adjust to this new, reality that is unfolding.”
4. Multiple screens, participants in virtual Security Council meeting
5. SOUNDBITE (English) Deborah Lyons, Special Representative of the Secretary-General and Head of the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA):
“More than 50 of Afghanistan’s 370 districts have fallen since the beginning of May. Most districts that have been taken surround provincial capitals, suggesting that the Taliban are positioning themselves to try and take these capitals once foreign forces are fully withdrawn.”
6. Multiple screens, participants in virtual Security Council meeting
7. SOUNDBITE (English) Deborah Lyons, Special Representative of the Secretary-General and Head of the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA):
“For the Taliban to continue this intensive military campaign would be a tragic course of action. It would lead to increased and prolonged violence that would extend the suffering of the Afghan people and threaten to destroy much of what has been built and hard won in the past 20 years. It should be emphatically clear that any efforts to install a militarily imposed government in Kabul would go against the will of the Afghan people, and against the stated positions of the regional countries and the broader international community.”
8. Multiple screens, participants in virtual Security Council meeting
9. SOUNDBITE (English) Deborah Lyons, Special Representative of the Secretary-General and Head of the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA):
“Preserving the rights of women remains a paramount concern and must not be used as a bargaining chip at the negotiating table. Men’s rights are not negotiable. Women’s rights are not negotiable. Human rights are not negotiable. Who knows this better than this Council? The international community and the regional countries, in particular, must reiterate the importance of these rights in the peace negotiations.”
10. Multiple screens, participants in virtual Security Council meeting
11. SOUNDBITE (English) Mohammad Hanif Atmar, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan:
“This is certainly not an outcome to be accepted after two decades of enormous sacrifices in blood and treasure by Afghans and our international partners. Profoundly appreciating your sacrifices and support over the past two decades, we, the government and people of Afghanistan, are committed to continue to work with our international and regional partners not to let our joint sacrifices go in vain and work to achieve our shared goal of peace, security and prosperity.”
12. Multiple screens, participants in virtual Security Council meeting
13. SOUNDBITE (English) Linda Thomas-Greenfield, Permanent Representative of the United States to the United Nations:
“The world will not recognize the establishment in Afghanistan of any government imposed by force, nor the restoration of the Islamic Emirate. There is only one way forward: a negotiated and inclusive political settlement through an Afghan-led and Afghan-owned process.”
14. Multiple screens, participants in virtual Security Council meeting
1. Wide shot, UN headquarters exterior
22 JUNE 2021, NEW YORK CITY
2. Multiple screens, participants in virtual Security Council meeting
3. SOUNDBITE (English) Deborah Lyons, Special Representative of the Secretary-General and Head of the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA):
“The mid-April announcement that all international troops will be withdrawn in the coming months sent a seismic tremor through the Afghan political system and society at large. The withdrawal decision was expected but its speed—with the majority of troops now already withdrawn—was not. All actors have had to adjust to this new, reality that is unfolding.”
4. Multiple screens, participants in virtual Security Council meeting
5. SOUNDBITE (English) Deborah Lyons, Special Representative of the Secretary-General and Head of the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA):
“More than 50 of Afghanistan’s 370 districts have fallen since the beginning of May. Most districts that have been taken surround provincial capitals, suggesting that the Taliban are positioning themselves to try and take these capitals once foreign forces are fully withdrawn.”
6. Multiple screens, participants in virtual Security Council meeting
7. SOUNDBITE (English) Deborah Lyons, Special Representative of the Secretary-General and Head of the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA):
“For the Taliban to continue this intensive military campaign would be a tragic course of action. It would lead to increased and prolonged violence that would extend the suffering of the Afghan people and threaten to destroy much of what has been built and hard won in the past 20 years. It should be emphatically clear that any efforts to install a militarily imposed government in Kabul would go against the will of the Afghan people, and against the stated positions of the regional countries and the broader international community.”
8. Multiple screens, participants in virtual Security Council meeting
9. SOUNDBITE (English) Deborah Lyons, Special Representative of the Secretary-General and Head of the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA):
“Preserving the rights of women remains a paramount concern and must not be used as a bargaining chip at the negotiating table. Men’s rights are not negotiable. Women’s rights are not negotiable. Human rights are not negotiable. Who knows this better than this Council? The international community and the regional countries, in particular, must reiterate the importance of these rights in the peace negotiations.”
10. Multiple screens, participants in virtual Security Council meeting
11. SOUNDBITE (English) Mohammad Hanif Atmar, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan:
“This is certainly not an outcome to be accepted after two decades of enormous sacrifices in blood and treasure by Afghans and our international partners. Profoundly appreciating your sacrifices and support over the past two decades, we, the government and people of Afghanistan, are committed to continue to work with our international and regional partners not to let our joint sacrifices go in vain and work to achieve our shared goal of peace, security and prosperity.”
12. Multiple screens, participants in virtual Security Council meeting
13. SOUNDBITE (English) Linda Thomas-Greenfield, Permanent Representative of the United States to the United Nations:
“The world will not recognize the establishment in Afghanistan of any government imposed by force, nor the restoration of the Islamic Emirate. There is only one way forward: a negotiated and inclusive political settlement through an Afghan-led and Afghan-owned process.”
14. Multiple screens, participants in virtual Security Council meeting
STORYLINE
The UN’s top diplomat in Afghanistan Deborah Lyons said more than 50 Afghanistan’s 370 districts have fallen to the Taliban since the beginning of May, most of which surround provincial capitals, “suggesting that the Taliban are positioning themselves to try and take these capitals once foreign forces are fully withdrawn.”
Speaking at a high-level virtual meeting of the Security Council today (22 Jun) the Head of the UN Mission in Afghanistan said all major trends in the country, including politics, the economy, security, humanitarian emergency, and COVID-19 are negative or stagnant.
She said the resilience of the Afghan people is being severely tested, and the possibility of the country sliding into dire scenarios is undeniable.
Lyons said the mid-April announcement that all international troops will be withdrawn in the coming months sent a “seismic tremor through the Afghan political system and society at large.” She said, “The withdrawal decision was expected but its speed—with the majority of troops now already withdrawn—was not. All actors have had to adjust to this new, reality that is unfolding.”
The UN Special Representative said the February 2020 agreement between the United States and the Taliban generated hope that it would create the space for a peace to be made among Afghans, but instead, actions on the battlefield have been far greater than progress at the negotiating table.
Lyons noted that the Afghan public and the diplomatic community in Kabul have been alarmed at the lack of political unity among Afghanistan’s political elite and stressed the need to address this or risks contributing to further Taliban territorial advances.
The UN official said the Taliban’s military campaign runs directly counter to recent statements by the head of its Political Commission that the group is committed to forging ahead with the other sides in an atmosphere of mutual respect and reach an agreement.
She said, “For the Taliban to continue this intensive military campaign would be a tragic course of action. It would lead to increased and prolonged violence that would extend the suffering of the Afghan people and threaten to destroy much of what has been built and hard won in the past 20 years. It should be emphatically clear that any efforts to install a militarily imposed government in Kabul would go against the will of the Afghan people, and against the stated positions of the regional countries and the broader international community.”
The Special Representative said, even without the conflict dynamics, Afghanistan would be a country facing multiple crises. Almost one-third of Afghans face emergency levels of food insecurity, while this year’s drought worsens, and internal displacements increase. The World Bank estimated Afghanistan’s poverty rate could rise from 50 percent to more than 70 percent, while the 1.3 billion USD humanitarian appeal for 2021 is still only 30 per cent funded.
Lyon said civilian casualties have increased by 29 per cent in the first quarter of 2021 compared to the same period last year, with a notable increase in women and children casualties. She said civilians are deliberately and routinely targeted in clear violation of the International Humanitarian Law.
Lyon’s stressed that preserving the rights of women remains a “paramount concern and must not be used as a bargaining chip at the negotiating table.” She said, “Men’s rights are not negotiable. Women’s rights are not negotiable. Human rights are not negotiable. Who knows this better than this Council? The international community and the regional countries, in particular, must reiterate the importance of these rights in the peace negotiations.”
The UN chief in Afghanistan noted that the there is still time, barely, to prevent the worse-case scenario from materializing. She said effort must be made now by all to avoid the country going down the path of more bloodshed. She added that the only acceptable direction for Afghanistan is away from the battlefield and back to the negotiating table.
Afghanistan’s Foreign Minister, Mohammad Hanif Atmar, said a regression into a protracted conflict as pursued by the Taliban in collaboration with a number of transnational terrorist networks will pose a serious threat not only to Afghanistan by to the region and the international community as a whole.
He said, “This is certainly not an outcome to be accepted after two decades of enormous sacrifices in blood and treasure by Afghans and our international partners. Profoundly appreciating your sacrifices and support over the past two decades, we, the government and people of Afghanistan, are committed to continue to work with our international and regional partners not to let our joint sacrifices go in vain and work to achieve our shared goal of peace, security and prosperity.”
Atmar said his government welcomed the agreement between the US and Taliban, and that the US and NATO have met almost all their obligations under the agreement, including the withdrawal of their troops set to be completed in the coming weeks. He added that, despite not being party to the Doha peace agreement, the government released over 6,000 Taliban prisoners and engaged in good faith with the group for peace.
However, the Foreign Minister said the reality remained that the Taliban have not honoured any of their obligations under the agreement, as they keep ties with international terrorism, continue to escalate violence, and have shown no positive response to any peace plan. He said there must be respect for the Doha Agreement and Security Council Resolution 2513, and there must be accountability and an appropriate response.
Atmar called on international community and regional partners to use their influence to persuade the Taliban to honour their commitment under the Doha peace agreement. He said the establishment of a nation-wide ceasefire should be top priority for international community, adding that monitoring mechanism should be established to verify the implementation of the obligations under the agreement and resolution 2513 and take appropriate measures to ensure compliance.
US Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield said the decision to withdraw all troops from Afghanistan was not taken lightly. She stressed that her country’s commitment to Afghanistan’s safety and security endures, adding that the US will use its full diplomatic, economic, and assistance toolkit to support the peaceful, stable future of Afghanistan, and will continue to support the Afghan National Defense and Security Forces in securing their country.
Thomas-Greenfield said the parties to the conflict must press forward on a peaceful resolution in Afghanistan which protects the gains of the last two decades. She said the international community must push for meaningful and inclusive negotiations, with the full participation of women, that will lead to a permanent and comprehensive ceasefire, and a just and durable political settlement.
Addressing the Taliban, the US ambassador reiterated that a military path will not lead to legitimacy. She said, “The world will not recognize the establishment in Afghanistan of any government imposed by force, nor the restoration of the Islamic Emirate. There is only one way forward: a negotiated and inclusive political settlement through an Afghan-led and Afghan-owned process.”
Speaking at a high-level virtual meeting of the Security Council today (22 Jun) the Head of the UN Mission in Afghanistan said all major trends in the country, including politics, the economy, security, humanitarian emergency, and COVID-19 are negative or stagnant.
She said the resilience of the Afghan people is being severely tested, and the possibility of the country sliding into dire scenarios is undeniable.
Lyons said the mid-April announcement that all international troops will be withdrawn in the coming months sent a “seismic tremor through the Afghan political system and society at large.” She said, “The withdrawal decision was expected but its speed—with the majority of troops now already withdrawn—was not. All actors have had to adjust to this new, reality that is unfolding.”
The UN Special Representative said the February 2020 agreement between the United States and the Taliban generated hope that it would create the space for a peace to be made among Afghans, but instead, actions on the battlefield have been far greater than progress at the negotiating table.
Lyons noted that the Afghan public and the diplomatic community in Kabul have been alarmed at the lack of political unity among Afghanistan’s political elite and stressed the need to address this or risks contributing to further Taliban territorial advances.
The UN official said the Taliban’s military campaign runs directly counter to recent statements by the head of its Political Commission that the group is committed to forging ahead with the other sides in an atmosphere of mutual respect and reach an agreement.
She said, “For the Taliban to continue this intensive military campaign would be a tragic course of action. It would lead to increased and prolonged violence that would extend the suffering of the Afghan people and threaten to destroy much of what has been built and hard won in the past 20 years. It should be emphatically clear that any efforts to install a militarily imposed government in Kabul would go against the will of the Afghan people, and against the stated positions of the regional countries and the broader international community.”
The Special Representative said, even without the conflict dynamics, Afghanistan would be a country facing multiple crises. Almost one-third of Afghans face emergency levels of food insecurity, while this year’s drought worsens, and internal displacements increase. The World Bank estimated Afghanistan’s poverty rate could rise from 50 percent to more than 70 percent, while the 1.3 billion USD humanitarian appeal for 2021 is still only 30 per cent funded.
Lyon said civilian casualties have increased by 29 per cent in the first quarter of 2021 compared to the same period last year, with a notable increase in women and children casualties. She said civilians are deliberately and routinely targeted in clear violation of the International Humanitarian Law.
Lyon’s stressed that preserving the rights of women remains a “paramount concern and must not be used as a bargaining chip at the negotiating table.” She said, “Men’s rights are not negotiable. Women’s rights are not negotiable. Human rights are not negotiable. Who knows this better than this Council? The international community and the regional countries, in particular, must reiterate the importance of these rights in the peace negotiations.”
The UN chief in Afghanistan noted that the there is still time, barely, to prevent the worse-case scenario from materializing. She said effort must be made now by all to avoid the country going down the path of more bloodshed. She added that the only acceptable direction for Afghanistan is away from the battlefield and back to the negotiating table.
Afghanistan’s Foreign Minister, Mohammad Hanif Atmar, said a regression into a protracted conflict as pursued by the Taliban in collaboration with a number of transnational terrorist networks will pose a serious threat not only to Afghanistan by to the region and the international community as a whole.
He said, “This is certainly not an outcome to be accepted after two decades of enormous sacrifices in blood and treasure by Afghans and our international partners. Profoundly appreciating your sacrifices and support over the past two decades, we, the government and people of Afghanistan, are committed to continue to work with our international and regional partners not to let our joint sacrifices go in vain and work to achieve our shared goal of peace, security and prosperity.”
Atmar said his government welcomed the agreement between the US and Taliban, and that the US and NATO have met almost all their obligations under the agreement, including the withdrawal of their troops set to be completed in the coming weeks. He added that, despite not being party to the Doha peace agreement, the government released over 6,000 Taliban prisoners and engaged in good faith with the group for peace.
However, the Foreign Minister said the reality remained that the Taliban have not honoured any of their obligations under the agreement, as they keep ties with international terrorism, continue to escalate violence, and have shown no positive response to any peace plan. He said there must be respect for the Doha Agreement and Security Council Resolution 2513, and there must be accountability and an appropriate response.
Atmar called on international community and regional partners to use their influence to persuade the Taliban to honour their commitment under the Doha peace agreement. He said the establishment of a nation-wide ceasefire should be top priority for international community, adding that monitoring mechanism should be established to verify the implementation of the obligations under the agreement and resolution 2513 and take appropriate measures to ensure compliance.
US Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield said the decision to withdraw all troops from Afghanistan was not taken lightly. She stressed that her country’s commitment to Afghanistan’s safety and security endures, adding that the US will use its full diplomatic, economic, and assistance toolkit to support the peaceful, stable future of Afghanistan, and will continue to support the Afghan National Defense and Security Forces in securing their country.
Thomas-Greenfield said the parties to the conflict must press forward on a peaceful resolution in Afghanistan which protects the gains of the last two decades. She said the international community must push for meaningful and inclusive negotiations, with the full participation of women, that will lead to a permanent and comprehensive ceasefire, and a just and durable political settlement.
Addressing the Taliban, the US ambassador reiterated that a military path will not lead to legitimacy. She said, “The world will not recognize the establishment in Afghanistan of any government imposed by force, nor the restoration of the Islamic Emirate. There is only one way forward: a negotiated and inclusive political settlement through an Afghan-led and Afghan-owned process.”
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