Monday, August 30, 2021
Departure for Afghans
UN increases pressure on Taliban with resolution
The withdrawal of US troops from Afghanistan is nearing its end. But the situation in the country is still dire. In order to secure the departure of more people, the UN Security Council is now trying to hold the Taliban responsible.
The UN Security Council is increasing pressure on the militant Islamist Taliban to allow Afghans to leave their homeland unhindered. A corresponding resolution was adopted by the most powerful UN body with 13 votes in favor, Russia and China abstained.
In the resolution, the Security Council refers to the Taliban’s pledges on Friday that Afghans are free to leave the country at any time and by any means possible. The Security Council “expects the Taliban to honor these and all other commitments,” it says.
The resolution, which was presented by Great Britain and France together with the USA and Ireland, also demands that Afghanistan should not become a haven for terrorists and their attack plans. The need for unhindered humanitarian access and respect for human rights, in particular “the rights of women, children and minorities”, is also emphasized. A UN security zone in Kabul recently brought into play by French President Emmanuel Macron is not mentioned in the resolution.
Resolution binding under international law
According to Western diplomats, the veto powers Russia and China were open to an agreement during negotiations over the weekend. In the end, you made one of the rare breakthroughs in the Security Council. In most of the major crises in recent years, the permanent members – especially the USA, China and Russia – have often been at odds and blocked common solutions.
UN resolutions are binding under international law. Later this Monday, the representatives of the five veto powers were supposed to meet with UN Secretary General António Guterres to discuss the situation in Afghanistan. The meeting was scheduled for 6 p.m. New York time (midnight CEST). Delegates, however, dampened hopes for potential results – it was more about an exchange between the UN chief and the permanent representatives.
In the course of its evacuation mission at Kabul airport, the USA recently removed around 1200 people from the country within 24 hours. The White House announced that 26 US military planes had flown out around 1200 people between early Sunday morning and early Monday morning. Since the start of the mission in mid-August, a total of around 116,700 people have been evacuated from Afghanistan, it said. According to CNN, Washington has now also completed the evacuation mission. The Bundeswehr ended its rescue operation on Thursday, France, Spain and Great Britain followed on Friday and Saturday.
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