KABUL, AFGHANISTAN – Civil society activists and women’s rights defenders from Afghanistan have strongly criticized the United Nations for excluding them from the development of its “Mosaic” plan for Afghanistan.
The criticism was raised during the fourth round of the Antalya Process talks, held on Monday in Antalya, Turkey. The meeting, titled “The Role of Civil Society and Democratic Forces in the Future of Afghanistan,” brought together Afghan activists, rights defenders, and exiled political figures to discuss the country’s future.
The “Mosaic” proposal was recently drafted by the UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) in consultation with Taliban officials. The plan calls on the Taliban to form an inclusive government, respect human rights—especially women’s rights—and combat terrorism. In return, the Taliban demand the lifting of sanctions, the release of Afghanistan’s frozen assets, and continued international engagement with their regime.
Nasir Ahmad Andisha, Afghanistan’s ambassador to Geneva, said the plan marginalizes non-Taliban actors and undermines the role of women and civil society. He noted that the proposal refers to the Taliban as the “primary stakeholders,” while describing rights defenders, exiled activists, and the wider population as “other Afghan stakeholders.”
“The UN has not meaningfully shared the Mosaic plan with Afghan civil actors or activists,” Andisha said. “Some UN representatives believe many of Afghanistan’s exiled figures are not important enough to be involved in the country’s future.”
Mustafa Mastoor, former minister of economy, also questioned the plan’s effectiveness. He said the proposal cannot provide a workable mechanism for moving Afghanistan out of its current deadlock or for establishing an inclusive government.
Besmillah Taban, a security analyst, described the proposal as a concession to the Taliban. He argued that the plan ignores democratic institutions and the Afghan people, while making “vague and unmeasurable” demands of the Taliban.
“The Mosaic plan will ultimately lead to the normalization of Taliban oppression and recognition of the group,” Taban warned.
Nabila Mosleh, a women’s rights activist, echoed the criticism, saying the proposal fails to clearly define the role of political and civil actors in Afghanistan. She added it makes no mention of women’s involvement in politics or governance.
“The entire content of the Mosaic plan centers around the Contact Group’s engagement with the Taliban,” she said. “It ignores the needs of the Afghan people and the severe challenges they face.”
This is not the first time the UN’s approaches have faced criticism. Afghan civil society groups, women’s rights activists, and former officials have repeatedly accused the UN of sidelining their voices and excluding them from consultations and meetings, warning that such moves could push Afghanistan further backward.
