UN deputy political chief Rosemary DiCarlo to visit Afghanistan

UN Deputy Secretary-General Rosemary DiCarlo will visit Afghanistan later this month as the country faces ongoing humanitarian and economic challenges.

Rosemary DiCarlo, the United Nations Deputy Secretary-General for Political Affairs, is scheduled to visit Afghanistan at the end of January, UN officials confirmed on Wednesday.

Georgette Gagnon, acting head of the UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA), informed Taliban Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi of the planned visit and requested the group’s cooperation to facilitate DiCarlo’s trip.

The Taliban’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said discussions also covered the outcomes of Doha-based working group meetings. Taliban officials described the results as “positive,” though they noted ongoing UN shortcomings in providing alternative livelihoods for poppy farmers and resolving banking issues.

The UN has repeatedly tried to engage the Taliban diplomatically, aiming to integrate the group into the international community. However, no country has formally recognized the Taliban government, limiting the effectiveness of such efforts.

Afghanistan faces a severe economic crisis, with banking restrictions and limited international support exacerbating poverty and unemployment, while rural populations struggle to find sustainable alternatives to poppy cultivation.

Gagnon pledged UN cooperation to address banking challenges and support alternative livelihoods for farmers previously reliant on poppy production. Officials stressed continued collaboration would be essential for stability and development in Afghanistan.

DiCarlo’s visit comes amid efforts to ensure humanitarian needs and human rights are prioritized, even as formal recognition of the group remains absent.

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