A divided UN security council pressured the Taliban on Monday to fulfill commitments to let people leave Afghanistan after the US withdraws its forces., but China and Russia refused to support the resolution, which they portrayed as a diversion of blame for the chaos surrounding the US withdrawal.
With sponsorship from the US, Britain and France, the measure also calls for the release of humanitarian aid, defending human rights and fighting terrorism.
“The eyes of all Afghans are watching this advice and expect clear support from the international community. And this lack of unity is a disappointment for us and for them, “said French Deputy Ambassador Nathalie Broadhurst after the vote, in which Russia and China abstained.
However, British Ambassador Barbara Woodward described it as “an important step towards a unified international response”.
The vote came shortly before the U.S. moved its last troops from Afghanistan, ending America’s longest war, and four days after a suicide bombing at the gate of Kabul airport, they die at least 169 Afghans and 13 members of the American service. The bombing has been blamed on an affiliate of the Islamic State group.
“We cannot transport an entire country to security. This is the time when diplomacy needs to increase, ”U.S. Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield said after the vote.
But Chinese Ambassador Geng Shuang said the United States and its allies have left behind a “huge catastrophe they have created by shifting blame and responsibility to neighboring Afghan countries and the Security Council.”
French President Emmanuel Macron said Sunday that the resolution would propose a “safe zone” controlled by the UN. in Kabul for humanitarian operations. But ultimately, the resolution called for “all parties to allow full, secure and unhindered access” to aid groups.
United Nations diplomats, who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss private talks, said the resolution involved some commitments, but made key points about the aid and travel permit.
The council “expects the Taliban to adhere” to commitments to let Afghans and foreigners leave safely, according to the resolution.
The Taliban have said they will allow normal travel after taking control of Kabul airport after the withdrawal of the United States, and the United States and some 100 other nations said in a statement on Sunday that militants had said people with travel documents could still leave.
Russia’s ambassador, Vassily Nebenzia, complained that the resolution was not specific enough about terrorist threats and did not talk about the “brain drain” effect of the evacuation of Afghans and did not address the economic and economic consequences. humanitarian aid from the Washington freeze on Afghan government accounts in the United States. after the Taliban’s acquisition earlier this month.
China echoed some of Russia’s concerns and criticized the US for civilian casualties in a drone strike that U.S. officials said he crashed into a vehicle carrying several Islamic State suicides.
Britain’s Woodward called the resolution a “first response” and noted that the council has the lever to lift existing sanctions or extend them.
Meanwhile, the UN children’s arm said Monday it was working to bring together dozens of children and separated parents during the massive and hasty airlift ahead of the US withdrawal.
On Saturday, UNICEF took seven children to their parents in Kabul and has tracked the parents of about 70 more children to other countries, said Herve De Lys, UNICEF Representative in Afghanistan.
Due to conflict, drought and other problems, now about 10 million children need humanitarian aid in Afghanistan, De Lys said.