On Aug. 30, 2021, United Nations Security Council (UNSC) passed a resolution on the Taliban under India’s presidency with 13 votes in favor of this resolution.
The resolution was sponsored by France, UK, and the US. This resolution was adopted by 13 members, including India voting in favor and China and Russia being abstained, who are permanent and veto-wielding members in UNSC.
What exactly is this resolution all about?
On Aug. 30, 2021, UNSC passed a resolution on the Taliban under India’s presidency with 13 votes in favor of this resolution. The adopted resolution highlights the key points that give de facto recognition to the Taliban as a state actor in Afghanistan.
Focus points of the resolution
The very first resolution adopted in the UNSC on Aug. 15, 2021, soon after the capture of Kabul by the Taliban, said that the territory of Afghanistan is not to be used to threaten any country or shelter terrorists.
At the same time, the territory of Afghanistan will not be used to train any terrorist group or any terrorist activities.
This resolution also states the expectations of the international communities from the Taliban. One such expectation from the Taliban is that they will continue to cooperate with the international communities regarding the safe, peaceful, and orderly departures of Afghan’s and other foreign nationals from the country without any kind of threats. The international communities also expect that the Taliban will stand strong on its commitments to international communities.
Shortcomings of this resolution
There were five times UNSC mentioned the Taliban in the resolution, but none of the countries favoring the resolution condemned the Taliban for its activities. From capturing Kabul to firing recklessly on innocent people, neither UNSC nor any country mentioned these inhuman incidents that took place in Afghanistan; massive violation of human rights, sufferings of Afghan people, especially women and children, and many more.
Instead, this resolution noted the Taliban’s commitments to safety, security, and other orderly activities in Afghanistan.
But what is important is that this resolution does not talk about any provisions or procedures, or series of action taken if the Taliban fails to follow the commitments mentioned above.
Russia and China’s being abstained
Russia’s stand
Vassily Nebenzia, Russia’s envoy to the UN, put forward the argument that the resolution was not at all specific about the terror threats.
Also, this resolution did not speak about the brain drain effect of evacuating Afghans. Educated Afghan people leaving the country to take shelter in some other country will leave the economy of Afghanistan in crisis. This resolution does not talk about how Afghanistan’s economy will cope with the aftereffects of the Taliban being given the de facto status.
Also, after Washington froze the Afghan government’s account following the takeover of Kabul by the Taliban, the resolution did not address the economic and humanitarian consequences.
China’s stand
Along with Russia’s concern over the resolution, China, at the same time, criticized the US government for the civilian causalities that happened in the drone strike and for the death of all the innocent people during US operations. Also, the major concern for China in this resolution was there was no specific mention of ETIM, which is the biggest challenge for China to deal with.
Chinese ambassador Geng Shuang strongly stressed over cooperating with the Taliban and not isolating it if the international communities recognize the Taliban as a de facto actor in Afghanistan.
The international communities must engage with the Taliban and effectively assist them through trade, diplomatic or regional relations.
India’s stand
Mr. Harsh Vardhan Shringla, the foreign secretary of India, chaired the UNSC session, in which the resolution was adopted. He said, “the resolution “unequivocally” conveys that the Afghan territory should not be used for the benefits given to any group which favors terrorism. This directly benefits India, especially after getting control of Panjshir valley in the hands of the Taliban and other probable terrorist attacks on India.
Also, the Kashmir issue and India-Pakistan tension can get even worse.
It is an achievement for India that such a resolution has been passed in the UNSC under its presidency, but India should not celebrate this because there is much more to come in the near future. Rather, India should prepare itself for future problems odd situations arising due to the Taliban.
