The Security Council adopted a resolution extending the mandate of the United Nations Mission in Afghanistan, while the Secretary-General of the United Nations, Antonio Guterres, said that the Security Council should consider developing a plan to exempt the Taliban from some sanctions.
The UN Security Council unanimously adopted a resolution extending the mandate of the UN mission in Afghanistan for six months and affirming the role of the international organization in promoting peace and stability in Afghanistan.
The Security Council requested the Secretary-General of the United Nations to prepare a report at the end of next January on the mandate of the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan in light of recent developments, and to brief the Council on the situation in Afghanistan every two months and the work of the Mission.
The resolution reiterated that the effective delivery of humanitarian assistance requires all parties to allow safe and unimpeded humanitarian access.
Commenting on the Security Council resolution, the representative of Russia said that the version of the resolution does not take into account the objective threat to Afghanistan, including the threat of ISIS.
As for the British delegate to the Security Council, she said, "We will accurately calculate our approach towards the Taliban based on what they are doing," and expressed her hope that the Taliban would abide by the commitments they made in the Doha negotiations.
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The British delegate considered that the United Nations plays a key role in coordinating humanitarian aid to the Afghans.
In turn, the Chinese delegate to the Security Council called on officials in Afghanistan to combat terrorism and eliminate its sources. He also called on countries in the world to unfreeze Afghan assets and respect the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Afghanistan.
The Chinese delegate said the new Afghan authorities should cut ties with all terrorist groups, urging officials in Afghanistan to abide by their commitments and protect civilians.
The Chinese official also called on the international community to fulfill its commitments in rebuilding Afghanistan, which he said is now in a transitional period from turmoil to stability.
For his part, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said that the UN Security Council should consider developing a plan to exclude the Taliban from some future sanctions.
In statements to the Russian news agency Sputnik, Guterres added that the United Nations should deal with the Taliban movement, play an important role in supporting the Afghan people, and mobilize the international community to provide effective humanitarian aid.
He also noted that the Security Council has prepared a list of important issues now, including that Afghanistan should not be a haven for terrorists.
Guterres also stressed the importance of forming an inclusive, multi-ethnic government in Afghanistan as well as respecting the basic rights of women and girls.