United Nations Security Council to Convene Quarterly Meeting on Afghanistan Amidst Deepening Crisis

New York – The United Nations Security Council (UNSC) is scheduled to hold its quarterly comprehensive briefing on the situation in Afghanistan, as the country grapples with a severe humanitarian emergency and ongoing human rights challenges under Taliban rule.

According to an official UNSC statement, the meeting will feature critical briefings from senior UN officials and civil society. Georgette Gagnon, the Deputy Special Representative of the Secretary-General and head of the UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA), is expected to provide a detailed assessment of the political and security landscape, with a particular focus on governance, counter-terrorism, and the Taliban’s adherence to international commitments.

The humanitarian dimension, described by aid agencies as one of the world’s most acute crises, will be addressed by a senior official from the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA). The briefing is anticipated to cover the dire needs of an estimated 23.7 million people facing acute food insecurity, the impact of recent natural disasters, and the severe funding shortfall threatening essential aid programs.

A civil society representative, whose identity is often protected due to security concerns, will offer a ground-level perspective. This briefing is likely to highlight critical issues such as the systematic erosion of women’s and girls’ rights—including bans on education and employment—the situation of ethnic and religious minorities, and the climate of fear and repression.

Following the open session, Security Council members will move into closed consultations. This private forum allows for a more candid exchange among the 15 member states as they deliberate on potential policy directions, the future mandate of UNAMA, and the international community’s engagement with the de facto authorities.

While the UNSC statement confirmed the meeting’s agenda, it did not disclose the exact date for the session, which is expected to take place in the coming days. The meeting occurs against a backdrop of increasing international debate over how to address the Taliban’s policies while preventing a complete collapse of essential services and averting widespread famine.

The international community remains deeply divided on engagement with the Taliban, balancing urgent humanitarian imperatives against demands for tangible progress on human rights, inclusive governance, and the prevention of Afghan territory being used as a safe haven for terrorist groups.

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