UN establishes formal ties with Taliban-ruled Afghanistan

The United Nations Security Council (UNSC) has voted to secure a formal presence in Taliban-governed Afghanistan, which has yet to win international recognition.

The 15-member council approved on Thursday a resolution that spells out the new one-year mandate of the UN political mission in Afghanistan, which it said was “crucial” to peace in the country.

The vote was 14 in favor, with one abstention, by Russia.

Norwegian UN ambassador Mona Juul, whose country drafted the resolution, said after the vote that the resolution includes several strands of cooperation on the humanitarian, political, and human rights fronts.

“This new mandate for UNAMA (the UN mission to Afghanistan) is crucial not only to respond to the immediate humanitarian and economic crisis, but also to reach our overarching goal of peace and stability in Afghanistan,” Juul said.

“The Council gives a clear message with this new mandate: UNAMA has a crucial role to play in promoting peace and stability in Afghanistan and to support the Afghan people as they face unprecedented challenges and uncertainty.”

The Taliban authorities lack international recognition six months after overrunning Kabul as the last US-led international troops departed, ending Washington’s 20 years of invasion of Afghanistan.

SS