World body urges Taliban to establish new, inclusive Government in Afghanistan
By Anjali Sharma
UNITED NATIONS – The world body held a meeting on Afghanistan and called for an immediate cessation of all hostilities as the talks between the Afghan government and the Taliban in Doha are stalled and the capital, Kabul falling into the hands of the Taliban.
Security Council meeting was chaired under India’s presidency and the elite club called Taliban to establish a new, united, inclusive and representative government in Afghanistan with full women participation as it reaffirmed the need to ensure that the Taliban or any other Afghan group should not support terrorists operating on the territory of any other country.
Council held an emergency session on the situation in Afghanistan, as the Taliban took control of the capital Kabul, Afghan President Ashraf Ghani and other officials fled the country, and chaos, uncertainty and tragedy unfolded on the streets and at the airport as thousands tried to escape the country.
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres addressed the members of the Council, said the international community must be united and utilize all available instruments to ensure that “we must speak with one voice to uphold human rights in Afghanistan.”
Council members called for an immediate cessation of all hostilities and “the establishment, through inclusive negotiations, of a new government that is united, inclusive and representative – including with the full, equal and participation of the women, the statement said.
It “reaffirmed the importance of combating terrorism in Afghanistan to ensure the territory of Afghanistan should not be used to threaten or attack any country, and that neither the Taliban nor any other Afghan group or individual should support terrorists operating on the territory of any other country.”
Council underlined that institutional continuity and adherence to Afghanistan’s international obligations, as well as the safety and security of all Afghan and international citizens, must be ensured, the statement said.
Current India presidency of the Security Council and the Ambassador to the UN, T S Tirumurti, spoke in his personal capacity, said that as a neighbor of Afghanistan and a friend to its people, the current situation prevailing in the country is of “great concern to us in India.”
Tirumurti said that “There are many unanswered questions. We also hope that there is an inclusive dispensation that represents all sections of Afghan society. Voices of Afghan women, aspirations of Afghan children and the rights of minorities must be respected. A broader representation would help the arrangement gain more acceptability and legitimacy.”
Security Council members expressed deep concern about the number of reported serious violations of international humanitarian law and human rights abuses in communities affected by the ongoing armed conflict across the country and stressed the urgent and imperative need to bring the perpetrators to justice.
SG Antonio Guterres has called on the Taliban and all other parties to exercise utmost restraint.
According to a statement issued by his spokesman it said that Guterres is “following the situation in Afghanistan with deep concern” the rapidly evolving situation in Afghanistan and urged the Taliban and all other parties to exercise utmost restraint in order to protect lives and ensure that humanitarian needs can be addressed, it stated.
It said that “Conflict is forcing hundreds of thousands to flee their homes. There continue to be reports of serious human rights abuses and violations in the communities most affected by the fighting.”
The statement added that Guterres was “particularly concerned about the future of women and girls, whose hard-won rights must be protected.”
“All abuses must stop. He calls on the Taliban and all other parties to ensure that international humanitarian law and the rights and freedoms of all people are respected and protected,” it said.
SG Guterres also spoke to the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Qatar, his Excellency Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al-Thani, on Tuesday and expressed his appreciation of Qatar’s efforts to promote dialogue between the Taliban and Afghan parties.
He hopes that these efforts will lead to an inclusive and peaceful transition.He stressed the need for assistance is surging while the operating environment becomes more restricted due to the escalation of the conflict.
Comments