Jan Egeland urges reopening of embassies and engagement with Taliban authorities
Jan Egeland, secretary-general of the Norwegian Refugee Council, has called on European, North American and other countries to reopen their embassies in Afghanistan and engage with the Taliban administration so they can pursue women’s and girls’ rights and strengthen aid delivery.
Speaking to Agence France-Presse in Kabul on Saturday, Sept. 21, he said engaging with the Taliban administration does not mean recognising it. According to him, countries should use their presence and dialogue to press for women’s and girls’ rights while also creating conditions to help them.
Egeland also stressed that experienced organisations, special envoys and diplomats should return to Afghanistan alongside humanitarian groups and stay in contact with Taliban officials in Kabul and Kandahar. He said aid groups in Afghanistan feel alone.
In another part of the interview, he said: “We are now on the frontline of humanity here, and the humanitarian groups feel completely left alone.”
The remarks come as international aid to Afghanistan has fallen sharply since the Taliban returned to power in 2021. As a result of the decline, humanitarian agencies are facing funding shortages to address people’s needs.
The Norwegian Refugee Council is one of the international relief organisations working in humanitarian aid and support for displaced people. Kandahar is also regarded as one of the Taliban administration’s key decision-making centres.
