In news–Recently, the UNSC chaired by India adopted Resolution 2593 on Taliban.
About the resolution-
- The resolution, sponsored by France, UK and the US, was adopted with 13 members, including India, voting in favour, none against it.
- However, permanent and veto-wielding members Russia and China abstained from it.
- The resolution says that the territory of Afghanistan is not to be used to threaten any country or shelter terrorists.
- It specifically mentions individuals and entities designated pursuant to UNSC Resolution 1267, i.e., Lashker-e-Taiba (LeT), Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM), etc.
- The LeT and JeM are anti-India terrorist groups that are based in Pakistan.
- In the past, LeT and JeM camps have sprouted in Afghanistan when Kabul was in the control of the Taliban between 1996-2001.
- The resolution is of direct importance to India and it sends a strong signal from the international community on its expectations from Kabul.
- The UNSC resolution named the Taliban five times, but did not condemn the grouping.
- Rather, it noted Taliban’s commitments about the safe, secure, and orderly departure of Afghans and all foreign nationals from Afghanistan.
- By other terms, it called for enhanced efforts to provide humanitarian assistance to Afghanistan and called on all parties to allow safe, unhindered access for the United Nations and its agencies, including with respect to internally displaced persons.
- Further by its terms, it called on all donors and international humanitarian actors to provide humanitarian assistance to Afghanistan and major Afghan refugee-hosting countries.
- The resolution also stressed the importance of maintaining humanitarian access, upholding human rights, reaching an inclusive political settlement and combating terrorism.
- While France’s proposal of “a ‘safe zone’ in Kabul that will allow humanitarian operations to continue” was not part of the final resolution.
Extra reading: https://journalsofindia.com/indias-unsc-presidency/
Source: Indian Express
