Afghanistan Peace CampaignThe resolution was adopted after 13 members of the Security Council voted in favor, while Russia and China abstained.
The UN Security Council adopted a resolution on Friday co-penned by the UAE and Japan that focuses on a path for Afghanistan’s reintegration into the international community referencing the recently completed independent assessment on Afghanistan.
The resolution was adopted after 13 members of the Security Council voted in favor, while Russia and China abstained.
In the resolution 2721, seen by TOLOnews, the UNSC reaffirmed its strong commitment to the sovereignty, independence, territorial integrity and national unity of Afghanistan, as well as its continued support for the people of Afghanistan.
It also urged support for a peaceful, stable, prosperous and inclusive Afghanistan and reiterated the need to address the challenges faced by Afghanistan, “including but not limited to, humanitarian, human rights and especially the rights of women and girls, religious and ethnic minorities, security and terrorism, narcotics, development, economic and social challenges, dialogue, governance and the rule of law.”
The resolution requests the UN Secretary-General, to appoint a Special Envoy for Afghanistan in consultation with members of the Security Council, relevant Afghan political actors and stakeholders, including relevant authorities, Afghan women and civil society, as well as the region and the wider international community.
The UAE Mission to the UN said on X: “The resolution encourages member states and all other relevant stakeholders to consider increasing international engagement in a more coordinated and structured manner. It affirms that the objective of this process should be an Afghanistan at peace with itself and its neighbors, fully reintegrated into the international community.”
The China representative at the meeting said: “the international community should effectively communicate and engage the Afghan authorities to provide support and assistance constructively.”
Anna M. Evstigneeva, envoy of the Russian Federation, said: “We welcome that the resolution addresses pressing issues, such as countering terrorist and drug threats, humanitarian assistance, human rights, the importance of building an architecture to ensure better connectivity of political, humanitarian, and developmental activities in Afghanistan, and also includes provisions regarding a substantive roadmap.”
The Russian envoy added: “In this regard, we assume that the Secretary-General will consult the de facto authorities when appointing a Special Envoy and will also take into account the views of all members of the Security Council. we will not support the Secretary-General’s decision unless it has the approval of the de facto authorities.”
In the meeting, the Japanese representative said: “Once adopted, this resolution will express the Council’s strong determination to facilitate a new strategy to address a wide range of issues in Afghanistan and set the course for international mechanisms necessary to tackle them. By adopting this resolution, we will also demonstrate to the people of Afghanistan, including relevant authorities, women, girls, and civil society, that the international community remains committed to a peaceful, stable, prosperous, and inclusive Afghanistan. The country continues to face enormous challenges and we should maintain and increase our attention on it.”
The draft text was proposed by Japan and the United Arab Emirates (UAE), the co-pen holders on the file.
According to the resolution, the UNSC members also stressed “the critical importance of a continued presence of the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) and other United Nations Agencies, Funds and Programmes across Afghanistan, and reiterates its full support to the mandate and the work of UNAMA and the Special Representative of the Secretary-General.”