KABUL (TOLOnews): The UN Security Council said in a statement it has extended for another year the mandate of the team monitoring sanctions on the “Taliban and associated individuals and entities, which threaten Afghanistan’s peace, security and stability.” The 15-member body, the statement said, “unanimously adopted resolution 2716 (2023) (to be issued as document S/RES/2716(2023)), directing the Monitoring Team to support the Committee established by resolution 1988 (2011), designating sanctions on individuals, groups, undertakings and entities found to be part of and linked to the Taliban.”
“Further to the text, the Monitoring Team is to gather information on instances of non-compliance with measures that include the freezing of funds and assets, prevention of travel and supply or transfer of arms and related equipment, established by resolution 2255 (2015),” UNSC said. “It is also to facilitate, upon request of Member States, assistance with capacity-building, and provide recommendations to the Committee for actions to respond to non-compliance.” The new mandate will expire in December 2024.
According to the statement, the US ambassador to the UN, Linda Thomas-Greenfield, whose delegation was the penholder on Afghanistan sanctions issues, welcomed the mandate’s renewal, saying the voting result is a “confirmation of the continuing importance of the 1988 sanctions regime” in supporting peace and security in Afghanistan. The Team’s reporting remains crucial to understanding both the impact of the sanctions and the events on the ground in Afghanistan, she said, adding that “these insights enable Member States to track whether the Taliban follows through on its commitments,” including on counter-terrorism, human rights for women and girls and unhindered humanitarian access. Geng Shuang, Chinese envoy at the UNSC, stressed the need to ensure that Afghanistan does not become a hub for terrorist organizations.
The international community must integrate the country into “the family of nations,” he said, expressing appreciation for the provision encouraging the Monitoring Team to visit Afghanistan and communicate with all Afghan parties. He also urged the council to make timely adjustments to sanctions measures to avoid any negative impact on the Afghan people. The team’s reports are a useful support for the Committee, said Anna M. Evstigneeva, envoy of the Russian Federation. She said they are pleased that the text of the adopted resolution notes the importance of the travel of the team to Afghanistan, which remains a key condition for the mandate’s implementation.
But the Islamic Emirate condemned the decision, saying that the imposition of sanctions does not benefit any side. “It is better that the countries and organizations understand that the imposition of sanctions is not the solution. The failed experiences will not be beneficial,” said Zabiullah Mujahid, the Islamic Emirate’s spokesman. The Islamic Emirate’s leaders within the past two years have repeatedly voiced criticism over sanctions imposed on them by the international community.
