At just 24, Yahya Qanie led the historic re-establishment of the United Nations Association of Afghanistan (UNA-Afghanistan) after a 35-year absence. Originally founded in 1986, the organization had dissolved amid Afghanistan’s prolonged internal conflicts and regime collapse. Recognizing that Afghanistan remained one of the few UN member states without a national association dedicated to advancing UN goals, Yahya initiated its revival—transforming it into a non-governmental platform for multilateral cooperation, civic education, and youth engagement in peacebuilding and international affairs.

Under his leadership, UNA-Afghanistan evolved into a modern civic institution committed to promoting global norms, human rights, and the Sustainable Development Goals. Its programs emphasized youth and women empowerment, and public education around international diplomacy. By engaging in advocacy campaigns and building strategic partnerships, the organization acted as a bridge between Afghan civil society and the international community. It also became the institutional home of Kabul Model United Nations, further embedding its grassroots impact in national development.

Despite operating in one of the world’s most legally and politically constrained environments—including a national prohibition on using “United Nations” and “Association” in NGO names—Yahya successfully lobbied for the organization’s recognition. With endorsements from the Secretary-General of the World Federation of United Nations Associations (WFUNA) and the UN’s legal department, UNA-Afghanistan secured the minimum necessary legitimacy. However, the Afghan government continued to withhold formal domestic approval, despite multiple appeals to the President, Parliament, the Legal Advisor to the President, the Presidential Advisor on UN Affairs, the Ministry of Justice, and the Ministry of Economy.

Though its operations were suspended after the collapse of Afghanistan’s government in August 2021, UNA-Afghanistan remains a milestone in Yahya Qanie’s leadership journey. It exemplifies how youth-led, bottom-up diplomacy can reclaim civic space and instill democratic and multilateral values in fragile states—offering a rare case study in strategic resilience and visionary local-global engagement.