Taliban spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid has accused the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) of publishing negative and inaccurate reports on the country’s situation.
Mujahid claimed that UNAMA’s reports have created a negative perception of Afghanistan within the United Nations, disregarding the country’s progress, achievements, and security improvements.
On Tuesday, 4 March, Taliban-controlled Radio Television Afghanistan (RTA) released an audio recording of Mujahid in which he strongly criticised UNAMA’s activities in Afghanistan. He accused the UN mission of exaggerating minor issues while deliberately highlighting negative aspects of the situation.
The Taliban spokesperson further asserted that UNAMA’s reports neither benefit Afghanistan nor the UN, declaring that the mission has not been “successful” in fulfilling its role in the country.
Context and UNAMA’s Mandate
The Taliban’s criticism comes ahead of an address by Roza Otunbayeva, the head of UNAMA, to the UN Security Council on 10 March regarding the situation in Afghanistan.
Last year, the UN Security Council extended UNAMA’s mandate until 17 March 2025, underscoring the mission’s continued role in monitoring and reporting on Afghanistan’s political, humanitarian, and security situation.
