Afghanistan Situation “Fragile”, “Of Direct Concern To Us”: India At UN

United Nations: Terming things in Afghanistan as “very fragile”, India has said it’s important that the Taliban adheres to its commitment to not allow the utilization of the Afghan soil for terrorism, including from terror groups designated under Security Council resolution 1267 that lists Pakistan-based outfits Lashkar-e-Taiba and Jaish-e-Mohammed.
India’s Permanent Representative to the UN Ambassador TS Tirumurti said at the UN Security Council Debate on Afghanistan Thursday that as Afghanistan’s neighbour, India was privileged to preside over the adoption of a considerable and forward-looking product of the Council during its presidency of the 15-nation UN body last month.

The resolution on Afghanistan “took under consideration a number of our collective concerns, especially on terrorism, where it’s noted the commitment of the Taliban to not allow the utilization of the Afghan soil for terrorism, including from terrorists and terrorist groups designated under Resolution 1267.

The Security Council resolution has “underlined that Afghan territory shouldn’t be wont to threaten or attack any country or to shelter or train terrorists, or to plan or to finance terrorist acts. As witnessed from the deplorable surprise attack at Kabul Airport last month, terrorism continues to pose a significant threat to Afghanistan. it’s therefore important that commitments made during this regard are respected and adhered to,” Mr Tirumurti said.

Lashkar-e-Taiba and Jaish-e-Mohammed also because the Haqqani Network are proscribed terror entities under UNSC resolution 1267 (1999) concerning ISIL (Da’esh), Al-Qaeda, and associated individuals, groups, undertakings and entities. JeM founder Masood Azhar and LeT leader Hafiz Saeed also are listed as global terrorists under the 1267 Sanctions regime.

Resolution 2593 also took note of the Taliban statement that Afghans are going to be ready to travel abroad in an unhindered manner. “We hope that these commitments are going to be adhered to, including regarding the safe, secure, and orderly departure from Afghanistan of Afghans and every one foreign nationals,” Mr Tirumurti said.

India also called on the international community to rise above any partisan interests and stand along side the people of Afghanistan in their desire for peace, stability and security within the country.

“The situation in Afghanistan continues to be very fragile. As its immediate neighbour and a lover to its people, the present situation is of direct concern to us,” Mr Tirumurti said.

He said uncertainties abound about the longer term of the Afghan people, also as about sustaining and building on the gains achieved over the last 20 years .

“In this context, we reiterate the necessity for the voices of Afghan women to be heard, aspirations of Afghan children to be realised and therefore the rights of minorities to be protected. We turn humanitarian assistance to be provided urgently and underline the necessity to supply unhindered access to the UN and other agencies during this regard,” he said.

Underlining that Afghanistan has already seen enough bloodshed and violence in recent years, Tirumurti said India “calls on the international community to return together, rising above any partisan interests, to face along side the people of Afghanistan in their desire for peace, stability and security within the country. we’d like to enable all Afghans, including women, children and minorities, to measure in peace and dignity.”

Briefing the safety Council, Secretary-General’s Special Representative for Afghanistan Deborah Lyons said that the new reality in Afghanistan is that the lives of many Afghans will depend upon how the Taliban will prefer to govern.

“We are faced, as of two days ago, with a de facto administration announced by the Taliban. those that hoped for, and urged for, inclusivity are going to be disappointed. There are not any women within the names listed. There are not any non-Taliban members, no figures from the past government, nor leaders of minority groups. Instead, it contains many of an equivalent figures who were a part of the Taliban leadership from 1996 to 2001,” she said.

Lyons told the Council that “what is of immediate and practical importance to those around this table is that of the 33 names presented, many are on the United Nations sanctions list, including the prime minister, the 2 deputy prime ministers, and therefore the secretary of state . All of you’ll got to decide which steps to require regarding the sanctions list, and therefore the impact on future engagement.”

The Taliban announced a hardline interim government led by Mullah Mohammad Hasan Akhund, chief of the Taliban’s powerful decision-making body ”Rehbari Shura”. He are going to be the Acting Prime Minister while Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar are going to be his deputy within the “new Islamic government”, Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid said at a press conference in Kabul.

The announcement of key figures within the caretaker government comes weeks after the Taliban seized control of war-torn Afghanistan, ousting the previous elected leadership which was backed by the West.

UN-designated terrorist Sirajuddin Haqqani is additionally a part of the interim Taliban government. Haqqani, a specially designated global terrorist and son of the famous anti-Soviet warlord Jalaluddin Haqqani who founded Haqqani Network, is that the new acting interior minister within the 33-member Cabinet that has no woman member. Haqqani has been one among two deputy leaders of the Taliban since 2016 and features a USD 10 million US bounty on his head.

Khalil Haqqani, Sirajuddin’s uncle, was appointed as acting minister for refugees. Two other members of the Haqqani clan were also named to positions within the interim government, indicating the hand of Pakistan within the Taliban-run government.

Mr Tirumurti stressed India’s involve an inclusive dispensation in Afghanistan which represents all sections of Afghan society.

“A broad-based, inclusive and representative formation attained through an inclusive negotiated political settlement would gain greater international acceptability and legitimacy,” he said.

He further said that India calls upon all members of the Council that when it decides on the longer term of the UNAMA (UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan) mandate, “we keep our focus centred on Afghan people and their expectations from the international community to face by them during this hour of crisis.”

Mr Tirumurti said the planet has witnessed dramatic changes within the situation in Afghanistan over the course of the last month. the safety Council met thrice in August under India’s Presidency and has collectively pronounced the prevailing situation. especially , UN Security Council Resolution (UNSCR) 2593 on Afghanistan clearly sets out the Council’s expectations on a variety of critical and immediate issues, he said.