ON AFGHANISTAN, THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY IS AT A CROSSROADS
The MED This Week newsletter provides expert analysis and informed insights on the most significant developments in the MENA region, bringing together unique opinions on the topic and reliable foresight on future scenarios. Today, we look at the extraordinary G20 summit which took place on Tuesday as an opportunity to reflect on the humanitarian crisis that is unfolding in Afghanistan and on its regional context.
The extraordinary G20 summit offered a first critical step for the international community to address the humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan and alleviate the situation in the country. Three issues were on the table: to avoid a humanitarian crisis that could trigger an uncontrolled migration flow, ensure that the country does not become a shrine for jihadist organizations once again, and support humanitarian organisations to assist the population. In this effort, the international community faces the fundamental dilemma of finding a suitable solution to help the Afghan population without legitimising a government that came to power by force and denies citizens’ fundamental rights. Yet, the crisis in Afghanistan has taken up a regional dimension. Asserting its diplomatic agency in the region, Doha has become the Taliban’s communication channel to the outside world. Due to its interest in preserving regional stability and preventing a new flow of migrants, Ankara has also recently entered the Afghan quagmire. At the same time, the consequences of the sudden US withdrawal from Afghanistan offers Tehran new opportunities, as well as new challenges.
Experts from the ISPI MED network react to the extraordinary G20 on Afghanistan.
