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The resolution requires the Taliban to fulfil their promise to allow people to leave Afghanistan freely.
The UN Security Council passed a resolution requiring the Taliban to fulfill its promise to allow people to leave Afghanistan freely, but the measure did not include the “safe zone” mentioned by French President Emmanuel Macron.
The resolution drafted by the United States, Britain and France was passed with 13 votes in favor and no negative votes on Monday. China and Russia abstained.
The resolution stated that the Security Council hopes that the Taliban will allow “Afghans and all foreign nationals to leave Afghanistan in a safe, reliable and orderly manner.”
U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Linda Thomas-Greenfield said in the news: “The Security Council hopes that the Taliban will fulfill its commitments to provide safe passage for Afghans and foreign nationals who want to leave Afghanistan today and in the future.” A meeting held shortly after the resolution was passed.
The resolution refers to a statement by the Taliban on August 27, in which the organization stated that Afghans can travel abroad and leave Afghanistan at any time, including through any border crossing, including air and ground.
The resolution stated that the Security Council “expects the Taliban to comply with these and all other commitments.”
Macron expressed his hope for more specific proposals in his comments published in Dimanche Weekly over the weekend.
Macron said that he said Paris and London will propose a draft resolution “to establish a “safe zone” in Kabul under the control of the United Nations so that humanitarian operations can continue.”
“I very much hope that it will succeed. I don’t see anyone who would oppose ensuring the safety of humanitarian projects,” he said.
But the UN resolutions on the table are far less ambitious. It is not clear whether another resolution proposing a “safe zone” will be distributed later.
Experts said the text was downplayed to ensure that China and Russia would not use veto power to stop it, including softening some Taliban-related languages.
“This is a very thin text,” said Richard Gowan, a UN expert at the International Crisis Group.
“Macron exaggerated the idea of a safe zone at Kabul Airport this weekend, or at least did not communicate very clearly,” Gao En told AFP.
“The resolution at least sends a political signal to the Taliban that they need to keep the airport open and help the United Nations provide assistance,” he added.
The text calls on the Taliban to allow the United Nations and other agencies “full, safe and unhindered access” to provide humanitarian assistance.
It also “reaffirmed the importance of safeguarding human rights,” including the human rights of children, women and ethnic minorities, and encouraged all parties to seek an inclusive, negotiated political solution that is “full, equal and meaningful representation of women.”
The text also called on Afghanistan “not to be used to threaten or attack any country, or to shelter or train terrorists, or to plan or fund terrorist activities.”
The resolution came to an end when the Taliban returned to power on August 15 and the United States withdrew from the country 20 years later, international efforts to airlift foreign nationals and vulnerable Afghans out of the country came to an end.
France ended the evacuation work on Friday, and the United Kingdom followed suit on Saturday.
U.S. troops have been scrambling to complete a large-scale evacuation operation from Kabul Airport before the deadline on Tuesday under dangerous and chaotic conditions.
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