Even as the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) begins the two-day (18-19 August) meeting under India’s presidency of the key global body, the Afghanistan crisis is set to be one of the key issues that would be discussed threadbare. India is prepared to raise in a big way the Afghan situation and the issue of regional security in the wake of the Taliban takeover.
Sources told The Daily Guardian that External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar during his various engagements at the United Nations stressed the need to discuss the fallout of the Taliban taking control of Afghanistan. “The global community needs to keep greater focus on the rapidly deteriorating and unravelling situation in the war-torn country,” sources said, quoting the EAM,
So, the stage is set for a detailed discussion on the Afghan situation vis-à-vis the chaos created by the Taliban takeover. There is no doubt that India is going to raise this issue in a big way as part of its diplomatic agenda to seek the world’s focus on Afghanistan and the powers (read Pakistan and China) which are behind what is happening. While Pakistan’s support for the Taliban is no secret, China has expressed its willingness to work with the extremists. Both the issues are something that the world is taking a serious view of, say sources.
Sources added that India has planned to put Pakistan on the mat for what is now an open support from it to the Taliban. Indian diplomats are quoting Prime Minister Imran Khan’s several statements that suggest his soft corner for the Islamic extremists in Afghanistan. “What is of significance is that the US is already unhappy with Imran for making a statement in which he had said that Washington messed up the situation in the trouble-torn country,” says an official.
Meanwhile, in a significant development Jaishankar on Wednesday chaired the United Nations Security Council Open Debate on Technology and Peacekeeping in the presence of UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres and other participating nations. Under the Indian presidency, the Security Council unanimously adopted for the first time a resolution ensuring accountability for crimes committed against UN peacekeepers. Notably, it is the first such UN Security Council Resolution that calls for prevention, investigation, and prosecution to bring the perpetrators to justice.
During the open debate at the UNSC, Jaishankar underlined the role of technology in the safety of UN peacekeepers and highlighted the role that they play in maintaining peace and tranquility.
Soon after arriving at New York on Monday, Jaishankar had said categorically that he expected to discuss the situation in Afghanistan during his engagements at the United Nations. The Security Council has already held an emergency meeting on the situation in Afghanistan. This meeting took place on 17 August. Jaishankar chaired an open debate on August 18 on technology and peacekeeping under the overarching theme of Protecting the Protectors’. Jaishankar will also chair a high-level event on August 19 on counter-terrorism during which the Council will discuss the Secretary General’s six-monthly report on the threat posed by ISIL/Da’esh, under the agenda item Threats to International Peace and Security caused by Terrorist Acts’.
It was during the meeting on Monday itself that India signaled how serious it is to discuss the Afghan crisis at the global platform. India had said if there was zero tolerance for terrorism in all its forms and manifestations and it was ensured that Afghan territory would not be used by any terrorist group to threaten or attack any other nation, Afghanistan’s neighbours and the entire region would feel safer. India’s Permanent Representative to the UN T.S. Tirumurti made this statement while addressing the emergency meeting of the UN Security Council.
UN Security Council members also reaffirmed the need for an immediate cessation of hostilities and violence in Afghanistan and that for any acceptance and legitimacy, there needs to be a political settlement that fully respects the human rights of women, children and minorities.
The Council members also reaffirmed the fact that we need immediate cessation of hostilities and violence. There was also a sentiment among the Council members that for acceptance and legitimacy there needs to be a political settlement that should fully respect the human rights of women, children and minorities.
Ahead of UNSC key sessions, Jaishankar discussed the situation in Afghanistan after the Taliban seized power in Kabul in his bilateral meetings including with UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres. Following his meeting with Guterres in the UN headquarters on Tuesday, the minister tweeted, “Good to meet UN Secretary General @antonioguterres. Our discussions focused on Afghanistan, following upon the Security Council meeting yesterday.”
Jaishankar also met Estonia’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Eva-Maria Liimets and as “UNSC members, discussed our working together on maritime and cyber security and other global issues. Exchanged views on the developments in Afghanistan.”