Attachments
SC/12283
7645th Meeting (AM)
Security Council
Meetings Coverage
Secretary-General’s Special Representative Briefs as Speakers Voice Concern over Targeting of Civilians, Illicit Drug Trade
Facing a fragile economic, political and security situation, Afghanistan must overcome several hurdles to ensure the survival of its National Unity Government and a peaceful future, the Security Council heard today as it unanimously adopted a resolution extending the mandate of the United Nations mission in that country by one year.
By the terms of resolution 2274 (2016), the Council decided to extend, until 17 March 2017, the mandate of United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA). Further by the 57-paragraph text, the Council called for full respect for human rights while expressing concern about illicit opium cultivation and production, the increased number of internally displaced persons, and the recruitment and use of children in suicide attacks by the Taliban, Al-Qaida and other violent extremist groups.
Providing an overview of the current situation, Nicholas Haysom, the Secretary-General’s Special Representative for Afghanistan, said the country was being tested in 2016 as severely as it had been in 2015, when violence had killed more than 11,000, including 3,000 children. Currently tasked with tackling a contracting economy, an intensifying insurgency and a fractious political environment while pursuing progress towards a sustainable peace, Afghanistan must overcome those and other grave challenges to avoid severe consequences. “Survival does not mean inaction or treading water,” he said. “It means active engagement in confronting these challenges.”
To achieve real progress, he continued, the international community must support the Government’s efforts to bolster growth and end corruption. In the coming months, the international community would make critical decisions at the July North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) meeting in Warsaw and the Brussels Conference on Afghanistan in October, on the level and type of assistance the country required.
Afghanistan’s representative said that, while there were clear signs that Afghanistan was turning once again into a symbol of international cooperation, with the National Unity Government as a trusted partner for all, grave challenges persisted, including threats by the Taliban, Al-Qaida and Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (ISIL/Da’esh). “Everything we cherish — equality, democracy, justice and human rights — is under attack from their daily onslaught of violence,” he said, emphasizing that ridding Afghanistan and the wider region of terrorism demanded more robust regional and global efforts. While there could be no military solution to pressing security problems, there would be no solution at all without an effective defence and security system. Peace talks with the Taliban must move forward, he said, adding that “making peace with Pakistan is essential to making peace with the Taliban”.
Pakistan’s representative reinforced that point, emphasizing that peace in Afghanistan was in her own country’s vital interest. Hopefully, direct talks between the Afghan Government and the Taliban could resume soon, in line with the Quadrilateral Coordination Group’s road map. The Afghan Government must come up with incentives to encourage the Taliban to engage in sustained talks, without preconditions that could halt negotiations before they started, she emphasized.
Iran’s representative warned, however, that cooperation with the Taliban and all other terrorist groups would encourage their behaviour and have a counterproductive effect on efforts to establish peace in Afghanistan. Iran supported an Afghan-led peace process, he said, adding that strengthening regional cooperation was a priority and a major pathway towards consolidating peace and economic growth.
The Russian Federation’s representative said that an Afghanistan free of terrorism and the drug threat depended on a national security force that could maintain peace and stability. While the Russian Federation had delivered arms and provided training for Afghan forces, challenges remained, he said, noting that the current NATO project had been unable to carry out its mandate.
Other Council members welcomed the gains made in Afghanistan over recent months, but condemned the ongoing violence, urging all parties to protect civilians and prevent attacks targeting them. Speakers also expressed strong support for ongoing initiatives and pledged future assistance to help the Afghan Government enhance its ability to counter the threats it faced, including the persistently defiant insurgency. Summing up a commonly expressed view, New Zealand’s representative said: “After our collective investment and sacrifice over the past 15 years, we cannot afford to let the country fall once again into chaos.”
Also speaking today were representatives of Spain, United States, Egypt, Malaysia, Senegal, Japan, United Kingdom, Ukraine, Venezuela, Uruguay, China, France, Angola, Italy, India, Canada, Sweden, Australia, Turkey, Germany and the Netherlands, as well as the European Union.
The meeting began at 10:10 a.m. and ended at 1:25 p.m.