Taliban Welcomes China’s New Role as Afghanistan’s Penholder in UN Security Council
Zabihullah Mujahid, the spokesperson for the Taliban administration, has welcomed China’s assumption of the role of Afghanistan’s penholder in the United Nations Security Council, describing it as a positive step. According to Mujahid, China’s understanding of the regional situation and its relations with Afghanistan position it to address issues related to the country in an impartial manner.
The penholder responsibility in the Security Council involves leading negotiations and drafting resolutions and documents pertaining to a specific country. The nation holding this role significantly shapes the framework of discussions and guides the Council’s decisions.
In an interview with the media, Mujahid stated that Beijing’s relations with Kabul create favorable conditions for addressing Afghanistan’s issues at the UN level. He did not provide further details regarding the Taliban administration’s expectations from this new role.
Previously, Japan held the penholder responsibility for Afghanistan in 2024, which has now been transferred to China for 2025. This development comes despite the Taliban administration still not being officially recognized by the United Nations, and numerous Security Council resolutions emphasizing human rights, women’s rights, and the formation of an inclusive government in Afghanistan—issues that remain significant challenges in the international community’s engagement with the Taliban government.
