Foreign Secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla said on Monday that Afghanistan’s territory should not be used to threaten or attack any country, or to shelter, finance, or train terrorists. Shringla made his remarks after the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) passed a resolution on Afghanistan, despite the fact that US troops had left the war-torn country after two decades. Under India’s presidency, the UNSC resolution was passed with the support of 13 members, with Russia and China abstaining.
“It underlines the risk individuals and entities designated by UN Security Council 1267. This is of direct importance to India,” Shringla said while briefing the media after chairing the UNSC meeting on Afghanistan. “The resolution also notes the statement by the Taliban in the 27th of August and the Security Council does expect them to adhere to their commitments, including regarding the safe, secure and orderly departure from Afghanistan, of Afghan and all foreign nationals,” he said.
“The resolution also recognises the importance of upholding human rights, especially Afghan women, children and minorities, as well as to inclusive negotiated settlement, and humanitarian assistance to Afghanistan,” the foreign secretary said as he also expressed condolences on behalf of India to Afghan nationals and US troops who lost their lives in the terrorist attack in Kabul.
In August, some very important issues came up for discussion in the council, including Afghanistan, maritime security, the Middle East, Myanmar, Syria, and Yemen, according to Shringla. As India’s presidency of the UN Security Council for the month of August came to an end, he thanked all members of the UN Security Council. “A very notable initiative that our delegation took was the organisation of the first comprehensive consideration of the issue of maritime security at the high-level event, chaired by our Prime Minister Narendra Modi,” he said.
“You will recall that under our presidency, the Security Council adopted three press statements on Afghanistan following related developments in the third, the 16th and the 27th of August… We also had two events on technology and peacekeeping and counterterrorism which were chaired by our external affairs minister Dr S Jaishankar.”
