Ramiz Bakhtiar, a young Afghan man, addressed the United Nations Security Council on Monday night on behalf of the youth in the country and said the younger generation of Afghanistan wants peace, stability and prosperity.
Bakhtiar, who was the first Afghan youth to ever address the council, highlighted the problems faced by the Afghan youth and also talked about solutions.
“Two thirds of Afghanistan’s population is under the age of 25. They hardly remember the Taliban time, let alone the regimes before that. They belong to a new Afghanistan. They have similar ambitions as their fellow youth in other parts of the world. The youths of Afghanistan are different in their way of thinking,” Ramiz said.
Bakhtiar, 28, said he was selected to speak before the council following an open competition.
“Our ambition is to make our country a hub for regional connectivity and a land of opportunities. We want the world to explore our culture and music and learn our history. We were a nation that embraced diversity as an asset and respected our religious beliefs,” he said.
Bakhtiar’s friends and colleagues said he had been a good choice to represent the Afghan youth at the event and that he has drafted solid plans for the youth.
“Ramiz presented the actual face of the Afghan society and the real voice of the Afghan youth at the UN Security Council,” said Fatima Mahboobi, Ramiz’s colleague.
Bakhtiar today works for MOBY Group but struggled to put himself through school. Determined to succeed however, he worked as a street vendor to pay his way through university.
“What is good about Ramiz is that he has a bright future,” said Sharif Safi, Ramiz’s friend.
During the meeting, the UN Secretary General António Guterres submitted the quarterly report on Afghanistan to the UN Security Council and highlighted Afghanistan’s ongoing political developments, security, regional cooperation, human rights, the coordination of development assistance, humanitarian assistance and returnees, ceasefire, drug trafficking and election process.