Raffaella Iodice, the European Union’s Chargée d’Affaires in Kabul, departed Afghanistan on Tuesday, August 27, carrying in her memory the lingering scent of pomegranates and the breathtaking view of Kabul’s hills.
“It has not been easy to work here,” she reflected in an exclusive exchange with The Diplomat.
“Yet, when I ascend to the rooftop of my residence and gaze upon the hills encircling Kabul, or when I traverse the streets, where my presence as a woman might even elicit some complaints, I am consistently moved by the warmth and smiles of the people.”
Iodice usually adorned herself in traditional Afghan attire and a headscarf, in deference to local customs. Her adaptation to Afghan customs went beyond mere symbolism. Whether amid families devastated by floods in Herat or standing alongside women reporters in a Kabul newsroom, she remained steadfast in her support for the most vulnerable. She stood by the girls and women of Afghanistan when nearly everyone else had left, a commitment that deeply resonated with many in the war-torn nation.
The fact that she was a woman made a difference.
“I was meeting a group of young girls in Herat when floods came, and I asked them what they wanted to become. One of them said she wanted to be like me. That will stick with me for a long time.”
This cultural sensitivity not only facilitated her work but also bridged the gap between her role as a foreign diplomat and the lived experiences of those she aimed to support.
“I never faced a closed door,” she noted. “None!”
In Iodice’s opinion, Afghanistan is not a black-and-white picture but a place with significant room for improvement, achievable only through continued dialogue.
Her time in Afghanistan has been marked by a profound emotional impact, from the warmth of its people to the despair she witnessed in Afghan girls and women who lived under severe restrictions. Iodice views Afghanistan as a land of profound complexity, where hope persists even in the darkest of times.
“Hope, for me, is not mere optimism but a deep belief in the potential of the Afghan people. The strength of this country does not lie in labels, ethnic groups, or regions, but in the collective will of its people,” she said. “I have witnessed countless examples of courage – men and women who, despite facing unimaginable hardships, continue to strive for a better future.”
As the only Western diplomat on the ground after the Afghan government’s collapse in 2021 and the Taliban’s takeover, Iodice had to shoulder the daunting task of restarting an office amid a rapidly shifting political landscape.
Returning to Afghanistan, she said, was a courageous decision on the European Union’s part, but it was not easy. Navigating edicts, addressing communication breakdowns, and finding a delicate balance between taking action and not worsening existing issues were among the significant challenges she encountered.
“My daughters and brothers were very worried when I decided to come to Afghanistan after the fall of the government [the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan]. It was a brave move, I would say,” Iodice recalled. “However, I am no stranger here; I had been coming for humanitarian work since 2016. So, I felt at home when I arrived, and I often remind people that, despite the challenges, life goes on here.”
After more than two years, she departs at a critical juncture. The plight of Afghan girls and women remains dire, with little to no improvement – a primary criticism she encountered during her time in the country. Amid the education and employment restrictions imposed by the Taliban’s Islamic Emirate, the most frequent question Iodice faced was, “Why aren’t schools opening?”
This question remains difficult to answer even today, she said, but “one thing is clear: the right to education for girls is not merely a Western demand, but a demand of the Afghan people.”
But the Taliban authorities apparently aren’t bothered. Instead, they have doubled down, again and again, on the restrictions against women.
The recent edicts mandating women to silence their voices and barring them from appearing unveiled in public have sparked outrage among Afghan women’s rights groups and drawn widespread condemnation globally.
In a statement, the United Nations denounced these measures. Its head of mission in Afghanistan said these laws exacerbate the “already intolerable restrictions” on women’s and girls’ rights, where “even the sound of a female voice” outside the home is now considered a moral transgression.
Josep Borrell, the EU’s high representative for foreign affairs, expressed outrage in a statement on Monday, describing the Taliban’s decree as “another serious blow to the rights of women and girls, which cannot be tolerated.” He urged the Taliban to end these systemic abuses.
Reacting to the regression in women’s and girls’ rights, Iodice emphasized that every nation in the world recognizes the right of girls to receive an education, and Afghanistan should be no exception.
“It’s devastating to witness young girls being abruptly denied the opportunity to attend school or university,” she remarked. “Afghanistan has always been a deeply traditional society, and we cannot expect swift societal transformations. It is the Afghan people, not outsiders, who must lead these changes.”
That’s why Iodice advocates for dialogue, even with those who hold opposing views. “We must continue to engage, to support, and to believe in the possibility of a better future for Afghanistan,” she asserted.
While imploring the international community to maintain its commitment and not turn its back on the masses in this critical situation, she highlighted the international community’s isolation of Afghanistan as a multifaceted issue with no easy solutions.
The country, long battered by nearly five decades of conflict and war, has been profoundly impacted by the fall of the government in 2021. This event was followed by the abrupt withdrawal of the international community, a sharp reduction in aid, sanctions, and political isolation, all exacerbated by climate change, which has caused devastating floods.
Afghanistan ranks among the poorest and least developed nations globally, positioned 182 out of 193 countries and territories on the 2024 Human Development Index. The country also stands at the heart of one of the world’s most persistent and complex humanitarian crises. According to the United Nations, nearly 23 million people in Afghanistan now rely on humanitarian assistance – five times more than in 2019 – with over 15 million facing severe food insecurity. Recent catastrophic floods in central and northern regions have only worsened the crisis.
In May 2024, Edem Wosornu from the U.N. Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), after visiting Afghanistan, told journalists in New York that a $3.6 billion appeal for the country was only 16 percent funded, urging the international community to remain engaged.
“This is not a hopeless crisis. At least I was encouraged to see that the people of Afghanistan continue to fight and push for what they believe in,” Wosornu said. “The world cannot abandon the people of Afghanistan at this point.”
In the three years since the Taliban regained control, Afghanistan has achieved some stability, but the situation remains highly fragile. Prior to the collapse of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, foreign aid accounted for approximately 40 percent of the country’s GDP, covering over half of the government’s $6 billion annual budget and financing 75 to 80 percent of public expenditures. However, following the collapse, aid was predominantly limited to physical shipments of U.S. dollars.
The U.S. and European nations froze nearly $9.5 billion in Afghan external reserves, which left the country’s central bank not only without access to its assets, but also disconnected from the global financial system. This abrupt change, together with the diplomatic isolation, plunged Afghanistan into severe economic decline and a deepening humanitarian crisis.
The top EU diplomat in the country, however, refuted the notion that the world has entirely turned its back on Afghanistan. Iodice emphasized that efforts continue to reach out and support the most vulnerable populations – women and children included.
“Many are trying to help. We are here. The aid that is coming from the EU, the U.N., and the U.S. is a lifeline for the Afghan people, which is only reaching those in need, not the government,” she stressed.
These funds are delivered under the coordination of the U.N. Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) and distributed through various U.N. agencies and international NGOs.
Undoubtedly, the limited financial support and the near-global political isolation are adversely affecting the Afghan population, leaving them cut off from the rest of the world. Canadian journalist and author Kathy Gannon, who has spent decades reporting on the conflict in Afghanistan, elucidated the negative impact of the continued political isolation in her New York Times opinion piece, “It’s Time to Go Back to Afghanistan.”
The issue of legitimacy is also crucial for the de facto authorities. Although the Taliban leadership may not always discuss it openly, behind closed doors they recognize the importance of securing legitimacy if they wish to sustain control over a country with over 40 million people who want to have access to the world and improve their lives. Despite diplomatic overtures from countries like Russia, China, Uzbekistan, the United Arab Emirates, and Kazakhstan, the Taliban’s efforts to gain recognition remain stymied by the international community. Afghanistan’s representation at the United Nations, appointed by the previous government, remains unchanged, with the Taliban denied the country’s seat.
However, the U.N. has been particularly vocal about the issue of education for Afghan girls and women’s rights, emphasizing that these violations not only infringe upon fundamental human rights but also jeopardize the country’s future prospects.
In 2023, Roza Otunbayeva, head of the U.N. mission in Afghanistan, underscored this paradox in her address to the U.N. Security Council, warning that while the Taliban seeks recognition from the U.N. and its 192 member states, their actions starkly violate the fundamental principles of the U.N. Charter, making such recognition unattainable.
Echoing this sentiment, Iodice cautioned that the prospects for normalizing relations or gaining recognition as Afghanistan’s legitimate government would remain “nearly impossible,” especially among European nations, unless the ban on girls’ education is lifted and conditions for women’s rights improve.
Despite the stalemate, Iodice emphasized her hope that dialogue remains possible and underscored the necessity of engaging in difficult conversations.
“Diplomacy is talking to people, and mainly talking to people you don’t agree with. Diplomacy is used in wars. In Afghanistan, sometimes we have this hard feeling that we just don’t even want to have a number of difficult conversations on both sides.”
Passing the torch to her successor, Veronika Bošković-Pohar, her advice was simple: “Listen, embrace, talk, and understand. Respect the culture of this country.” Iodice emphasized that even amid the deepest trials, a path forward unfurls through the delicate threads of understanding and cooperation, though it is a journey that demands time and perseverance.
It is perplexing that, while the EU has managed to send two successive female representatives to Kabul, the U.S. operates its embassy from nearly 1,500 miles away in Qatar. Undoubtedly, the continued closure of the U.S. embassy in Kabul is not helping the Afghan populace or improving the global perception of U.S. diplomacy.
At the same time, despite occasional encouraging public statements and grand announcements about development projects, the Taliban leadership has not only failed to address human rights abuses, but also imposed increasing restrictions on women.
This disparity underscores the complexity of Afghanistan’s situation, where both internal and external obstacles hinder meaningful progress. Amidst this, millions of Afghans continue to face daily reminders of isolation, helplessness, and confusion.