Afghanistan

The Directorate of Mine Action Coordination (DMAC) and the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) reached agreement in October 2023 on a framework for technical support through a Mine Action Technical Cell (MATC). This ended a disruptive, nearly two-year hiatus in institutional arrangements for management and coordination of the Mine Action Programme of Afghanistan (MAPA). In March 2024, DMAC submitted an Article 5 deadline extension request. However, the final draft of Aghanistan’s extension request was only made available on the Anti-Personnel Mine Ban Convention (APMBC) website in November 2024, after a long delay by the Committee on Article 5 Implementation and the APMBC Implementation Support Unit (ISU) in the processing of the request, due to the IEA’s lack of diplomatic recognition internationally. As a matter of international law, Afghanistan is represented by the Taliban government following its takeover in August 2021. The issue of recognition of the Taliban Government by the UN and individual States Parties is a separate matter from treaty application and implementation, just as it is under international humanitarian law. The Taliban regime is bound directly by all provisions of the APMBC, and it is therefore correct that Afghanistan’s extension request, submitted by DMAC and MAPA, is considered and granted by States Parties at the Fifth Review Conference in November 2024.

The takeover of Afghanistan and the subsequent sanctions imposed on Afghanistan have had a significant negative impact on Afghanistan’s clearance of anti-personnel (AP) mines. Clearance over the last five years totals almost 100km² but annual rates—at least according to official figures—have halved since 2021. At these lower rates, fulfilling Article 5 clearance obligations will likely require another 15 years. Mine action has managed to escape some of the most draconian Taliban policies on the employment of women.

• The authorities of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan (IEA) should increase national funding to the mine action sector.
• The IEA and DMAC should enhance the engagement of women and minorities in mine action.
• International donors should put funding for the MATC on a stable, long-term basis.

Click here to download the "Clearing the Mines 2024" report for Afghanistan.