RESOLUTION 2593

• Recently, the India-led United Nations Security Council (UNSC) adopted a Resolution 2593 on Taliban
• The resolution, sponsored by France, UK and the US, was adopted with 13 members, including India, voting in favour, none against it.

Important points:

• Reiterates the importance of combating terrorism in Afghanistan, including those individuals and entities designated pursuant to resolution 1267 (1999)
• Called for the Taliban to facilitate safe passage for people wanting to leave Afghanistan, allow humanitarians to access the country, uphold human rights, including for women and children and inclusive and negotiated political settlement.
• Russia abstained as the resolution wasn’t specific enough about terror threats, did not speak of the “brain drain” effect of evacuating Afghans and did not address the economic and humanitarian consequences of US freezing the Afghan government’s US accounts following the Taliban takeover.
• China shared some of Russia’s concerns. It believes that the current chaos was a direct consequence of Western countries’ “disorderly withdrawal”.
• China is of the view that it is necessary for the international community to engage with the Taliban, and actively provide them with guidance.
• Russia and China wanted all the terrorist groups, especially Islamic State (ISIS) and the Uighur East Turkestan Islamic Movement (ETIM) to be named specifically in the document.

Way Forward

• India is expected to chair the 1988 Sanctions committee that looks at Taliban sanctions next and participate in the decision to extend the mandate of the UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA), where it will also have to balance competing demands from the US, the UK and France bloc against Russia and China.
• India’s Afghan policy is at a major crossroads; to safeguard its assets there as well as to stay relevant in the unfolding ‘great game’ in and around Afghanistan, India must reset its Afghanistan policy accordingly.

SOURCE: THE HINDU,THE ECONOMIC TIMES,MINT