Chargé d'Affaires Jonathan Allen spoke at a Meeting of Members of the UN Security Council to discuss the current situation in Afghanistan, including the coronavirus pandemic and the need for both Afghan political unity and Taliban engagement with peace talks.
Jonathan Allen said:
The UK is deeply concerned about the potential impact of the global pandemic on Afghanistan and we are looking at options for scaling up our humanitarian support.
Violence only hinders efforts to tackle the virus, so it is vital that the Taliban ceases its attacks.
It is clear that a political process is the only way forward for a sustainable peace in Afghanistan. Developments last month provided some hope, but the Taliban must show that it is serious about peace by engaging in Intra-Afghan negotiations.
We are disappointed that political leaders in Kabul have been unable to unite ahead of negotiations. They must also follow through on their promises and form a genuinely inclusive government. The Afghan people expect and deserve nothing less.
