Afghanistan’s UN Dues: Islamic Emirate Asserts Non-Obligation Amid Recognition Dispute

Kabul: In a recent statement to TOLOnews, Zabihullah Mujahid, spokesperson for the Islamic Emirate, reinforced the stance that Afghanistan owes nothing to the United Nations amid the ongoing dispute over recognition. This declaration comes as the UN suspended Afghanistan’s voting rights due to unpaid fees.

Mujahid underscored that recognition of the interim government by the UN would pave the way for resolving current challenges. He emphasized that utilizing Afghanistan’s trust fund money to restore its voting rights is not permissible, asserting, “That money is entrusted there, and no one has the right to use it.”

Highlighting the pivotal role of recognition, Mujahid remarked, “As long as Afghanistan is not recognized as an independent government and country in the UN, we do not consider ourselves indebted.”

Meanwhile, India Times reported that discussions on Afghanistan’s voting rights are slated for the coming month. The nation lost its voting privileges due to outstanding membership fees totaling $900,000 since 2021.

Political analysts weighed in on the matter, criticizing the UN’s handling of the situation. Samiullah Ahmadzai emphasized the need for the UN to recognize the interim government promptly to avert such crises. On the other hand, Salim Paigir stressed the obligation to settle membership fees regardless of the current representation in the UN.

Previously, Afghanistan’s acting permanent representative to the UN characterized the suspension of voting rights as a technical issue, assuring that efforts are underway to address it swiftly.