INTERVIEW: Building bridges between Afghanistan and the world because ‘isolation is not an option’
Since then, as international funding has stalled amid skepticism about the Taliban’s return, the United Nations has served as the world’s “eyes and ears” in Afghanistan. After turning primarily to humanitarian work, UN agencies and partners are looking for ways to help people suffering from long-term hardship meet their basic needs and sustain their gains. development is difficult to achieve.
UN News used to be recently in the capital of Afghanistan Kabul to learn more about what the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) is working to support national partners in addressing the needs of drug-affected communities and to help prevent overcrowding in drug treatment facilities.
While there, we also talked to Markus Poztel who serves as the Deputy Special Representative for the United Nations Assistance Mission in the country, known as UNAMA.
In this exclusive interview, Mr. Poztel talks about the Delegation’s efforts in the fight against drug abuse and trafficking in Afghanistan and its work on restoring and protecting fundamental rights in the country, in particular rights of women and girls.
He emphasized the role of the UN as a “bridge builder” in a very complex context where the needs are as great as the challenges.
While crediting work with in fact government in many areas, he said UN News There is “no intermediary” on the issue of women and girls education and that broader human rights and decrees barring women from participating in society “should be reversed as soon as possible”.
This interview has been edited for clarity and brevity.
United Nations Deputy Special Representative for Afghanistan Markus Potzel speaks to UN News in Kabul, Afghanistan.
Markus Potzel: Afghanistan remains the world’s largest producer [of opium]. We recently saw a ban [enacted by the Taliban] cultivation, production and trade of opium. Initial field reports indicate that there has been a decline in poppy cultivation, which we commend.
We also see efforts to do more for drug addiction treatment center. The in fact the government can allocate more [budgetary funding] to equip these centers with medicine, food and clothing. But, I also call on the international community to do more. We cooperate with countries in the region that are really ready to support in fact drug addiction treatment agency.
In terms of livelihoods, more support from the international community is needed because it is in the interest of all of us – the interests of the people of Afghanistan, but also of the donor countries in the West and countries in the region. , all of whom are suffering from drug abuse and trafficking.
UNAMA solving [this issue] with the political leadership here, and we’re trying to find some common ground to combat drug abuse and trafficking, and provide alternative means of making a living.
United Nations News: How can you balance the work you actually need to do in Afghanistan and dealing with what is considered an illegal agency?
Markus Potzel: Our base of operations here is mission that Security Council gave us, which encouraged us to interact with all political interlocutors, including in fact authorities.
We have to face reality on the ground. The Taliban controls… almost the entire country. And that is an opportunity for the Taliban to stabilize and pacify the country. It is also a responsibility because they have to provide services to the people. They must provide good governance and the rule of law. This is where we see the deficit. The authorities are interested in talking to us because they see us as bridge builders. We can help get the message out from Afghanistan to the outside world, and we do it the other way around.
We have 11 field offices throughout the country. So here we are. We are the eyes and ears of the international community. We deliver the message, and by talking to in fact government, we also try to promote cooperation and help them come out of this isolation.
We think isolation is not an option, at least not a good option for the future of Afghanistan.
Students enter the UNICEF-supported Fatah Girls School in Herat, Afghanistan, on June 15, 2022.
United Nations News: The ban on women and girls from going to school has been devastating to the country’s development. While we were here, we even heard this from people working in organizations run by the Taliban. How can a middle ground be found for a problem like this one?
Markus Potzel: There is no middle ground in this regard. Afghanistan is the only country in the world that doesn’t allow girls to go to school after 6th grade or go to university. There is no discussion of this; it is not a bargain chip. It must be reversed.
I am sure that most of the Afghan people, including the Taliban, are against these decrees. They support girls’ education. I have not met any official from in fact authorities support decrees that ban girls from going to school or university.
[These decrees] detrimental to economic progress. Girls should have a say. Women should have a say in this society. [The de facto authorities] The ban should be revoked as soon as possible. Otherwise, Afghanistan’s relationship with the international community will always be overshadowed.
United Nations News: If the vast majority of Afghans disagree with this ban, including their own people, why does the Taliban government continue to implement it?
Markus Potzel: The emir of Kandahar and his inner circle offers a mixture of religious arguments and cultural narratives [for implementing the decrees]. But, in terms of religion, the Muslim countries of the world do not have this ban. No other country in the world has this ban. The Quran says “Iqra” means “read”. It encourages everyone – men, women, boys and girls – to read, write, learn.
And culturally, there is a tradition in this country that girls and boys learn. Under the Republic, not every girl could go to school. In remote, remote areas, they don’t have a chance, but they are empowered by the constitution and laws, which no longer exists.
United Nations News: Did you get any cooperation from Muslim countries in helping you get this message to the Taliban?
Markus Potzel: Yes, of course. There was a delegation of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) that came here and tried to convince the decision-makers in this country of the view that education is part of Islam. So far no results, but they will be back. These are scholars from Muslim countries, including Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, Qatar and Indonesia. [During the earlier visit] a woman who was part of a delegation of scholars. Muslim countries may be better and perhaps more persuasive when it comes to talking to the Taliban. We hope that in the end, all our efforts will bear fruit.
A mountain range and winding road between Kabul and Jalalabad.
UN news: Before the coup, the Taliban was the biggest threat to the work of the UN. After August 2021, what challenges does UN work in Afghanistan currently face?
Markus Potzel: In terms of security, it’s definitely Da’esh, the Islamic State of Khorasan Province.
The situation of the UN is increasingly difficult because Afghan women are currently not allowed to work for non-governmental organizations (NGOs) nor are they allowed to work for the UN. This really complicates things because we rely a lot on women in our work. Without women, it is very difficult… to maintain the operation of aid organizations. We need women to reach out to women.
There are tens of thousands of women-led households in this country because so many men in the family lost their lives in the war. And without women, NGOs and the United Nations cannot function effectively [so] fewer people have access to aid.
Afghanistan needs international help.
United Nations News: What is your message to the authorities in fact?
Markus Potzel: I think in fact the government in Afghanistan should allow girls to go to school after sixth grade. They should let their daughter go to college. They should let women work for international NGOs, for national NGOs and for UN organizations. And they should let women participate in social life. If this happens, I can imagine that Afghanistan will be reintegrated into the international community, and international donors will also rethink and possibly strengthen their commitment to Afghanistan. Afghanistan needs international help. And we, as the United Nations, want to help them help themselves.
