Naseer Ahmad Faiq, the head of Afghanistan's mission to the United Nations, has detailed the delegation's activities during the 81st session of the General Assembly. In September 2026, coinciding with the session, Afghanistan began its term as one of the Vice Presidents of the General Assembly.
According to Afghanistan International, Faiq stated the mission's message is clear: the crisis in Afghanistan can only be resolved through a credible, inclusive, Afghan-led, and Afghan-owned political solution. On the sidelines of the assembly, the Afghan mission, in collaboration with Afghan and international partners, organized four side events on key national issues.
The 81st UN General Assembly officially commenced on September 8, 2026. Discussions focused on global challenges such as peace and security, development, and human rights. In the peace and security segment, conflicts in Ukraine, the Middle East, and Sudan received significant attention, with an emphasis on respecting national sovereignty and protecting civilians.
The crisis in Afghanistan was not a major topic in the general debate speeches by world leaders and high-level UN officials. However, Faiq noted that representatives from Uzbekistan, Pakistan, Kazakhstan, Ireland, and Iceland mentioned Afghanistan in their speeches, expressing concerns about security, terrorism, and the violation of women's and girls' rights.
Notably, the Security Council held a meeting on Afghanistan on September 16, after which 42 countries issued a joint statement declaring their solidarity with the women and girls of Afghanistan. This indicates continued attention from parts of the international community on the human rights situation in the country.
Afghanistan's speech in the General Debate was scheduled for September 28 but did not take place. The reason was a scheduling conflict with another side event on "Climate Security and Environmental Resilience in Afghanistan," which the mission prioritized, highlighting their effort to address various dimensions of the country's crisis on the international stage.
Source: Afghanistan International
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