Afghanistan Remarks for the 6^th g7+ Ministerial Meeting Presented by H.E. Wahidullah Waissi

Ambassador Extraordinary & Plenipotentiary of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan to the Commonwealth of Australia

1.30 PM, Friday, 11 April 2025, Dili, Timor-Leste

Madam Chair, Excellencies, Distinguished Delegates, Ladies and Gentlemen.

It is a privilege to address you on behalf of the people of Afghanistan at this 6th Ministerial Meeting of the g7+ and commemorating its 15 Years of Unity: Shaping the Future of Peace and Resilience in g7+ Countries.

Our host for this meeting, the Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste, stands as an inspiring example of the indomitable character of the human spirit. After the years of conflict, its people courageously stepped forward in 1999 to reclaim their independence, leading to the development of the free and democratic society that we witness today. During the years of conflict, the aspirations of the Timorese people were all too often dismissed in the wider world as fantasy, but those who sought a better future never gave up hope or abandoned their struggle. The fruits of their struggle surround us as we meet.

The people of Afghanistan find themselves in a somewhat similar situation. Yet while suffering the repressive rule of extremist forces nurtured beyond Afghanistan's borders, they retain their hope that the darkness they now inhabit will be replaced by light. This is especially the case for the women of Afghanistan, who experience daily persecutions and humiliations at the hands of the Taliban. In such circumstances, the solidarity shown by states such as those present at this gathering is a significant contributor to our struggle.

Excellencies,

Since its founding, the g7+ has served as a powerful voice for nations emerging from conflict, advocating for country-led transitions and stronger cooperation among fragile states.

At the time of the 4th Ministerial Meeting in Kabul in 2016, Afghanistan stood as a progressing democracy. Public and private education, economic development, democratic institutions and political representation, human rights, women's and girls’ empowerment, freedom of speech and the press, as well as the flourishing of arts, culture, music, and sports have now faced unjust impediments and restrictions imposed by the Taliban regime, due to their misinterpretation of Islam and Sharia law. This interpretation is both unfamiliar and unacceptable to the global community and the wider Muslim world.

As Prime Minister Xanana Gusmão, who visited Kabul in 2016, highlighted in his remarks this morning, despite two decades of war against terrorism—and the immense sacrifices made both nationally and internationally—Afghanistan is now ruled by the very forces it once fought to resist. The Prime Minister concluded that the absence of a peace process that was truly locally owned and locally managed—one that genuinely reflected the aspirations of the Afghan people—ultimately led to this tragic outcome.

Fragility and instability have revealed their true face, undermining the progress Afghans had built with resilience and courage. This moment demands honest reflection, renewed commitment to justice and human rights, and a reminder that peace cannot be imposed—it must be inclusive, locally-led, and deeply rooted in the will of the people. As a result, today, Afghanistan faces one of the most acute crises in its modern history.

The return of the Taliban has led to the systematic exclusion of girls and women, the suppression of civil liberties, the deterioration of democratic institutions, and a collapse in economic and humanitarian conditions.  This deliberate and institutionalized exclusion of women from all spheres of public life constitutes a form of ‘gender apartheid’, one of the most egregious violations of human rights in the 21st century. The Afghan people—especially women and youth—continue to resist this regression with remarkable courage and resilience.

The g7+ community understands what fragility means—not just in state institutions, but in the hearts of people who have been betrayed by war, political manipulation, and broken promises. This network is not merely symbolic; it is a platform of shared experience and solidarity. It is within this spirit that Afghanistan urges continued and principled support from the international community.

Madam Chair,

We offer the following key priorities:

• Do not normalize oppression. Diplomatic or developmental engagement with the Taliban must be based on strict, verifiable conditions, particularly around human rights, democratic values, and political inclusivity. Restoration of constitution, democracy, and inclusive
• Put Afghans First, Not the Taliban Regime. As global power shifts, aid declines, and economic uncertainty grows, in the long term, the focus must shift from supporting a repressive regime to empowering the Afghan people. Afghans need tools, not handouts—to rise from dependency to dignity, and to rebuild a just and functional society. In the short term, all humanitarian and economic support must bypass Taliban-controlled channels and reach communities directly. Assistance should strengthen the people, not legitimize their oppressors. The future of Afghanistan depends on its people not those who silence them.
• Elevate Afghan voices. Any future political process must meaningfully include Afghan women, youth, civil society, and democratic opposition groups—those who represent the real aspirations of the country.
• Preserve accountability. Afghanistan needs robust international mechanisms to monitor human rights violations, promote justice, and prevent impunity for crimes against civilians. We welcome the ICC's decision to issue arrest warrants for two Taliban leaders and look forward to the cooperation of the international community in ensuring accountability and justice.
• Advance Reconciliation and Protect Sovereignty. We believe that a credible and inclusive process of truth and reconciliation is vital to building lasting peace. In this regard, Timor-Leste offers a powerful example. Their journey speaks to the strength of national healing rooted in justice and inclusivity. Afghanistan, too, has long been affected by external rivalries that have deepened internal divides and limited national self-determination. While Afghans aspire to a sovereign and balanced role in global affairs, they are too often caught in the crosscurrents of broader geopolitical interests. As time is ticking, we call on our international partners, and on the leadership of Timor-Leste; to continue championing efforts that support a future for Afghanistan shaped by its own people, grounded in reconciliation, national ownership, and free from external coercion.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Our region and our world cannot afford to let Afghanistan become a forgotten crisis or a safe haven for extremism and terrorism. We must work together to ensure that peace is not just the absence of war, but the presence of justice, dignity, freedom, and opportunity for all Afghans.

As a founding member of the g7+, Afghanistan takes heart from the support for its people that comes from other members of the organisation, and especially from our host for this important meeting.

Let me conclude by recalling that resilience is not the absence of hardship—it is the choice to rise despite it. The Afghan people have not given up. They still believe in a future free from fear, exclusion, and repression. The g7+ must stand with them in this belief, firmly, loudly, and without compromise.

Thank you.