Russia abstains on U.N. Afghan mission vote over ‘ignorance’ of new realities

UNITED NATIONS, March 17 (Reuters) – The U.N. Security Council on Thursday renewed the world body’s assistance mission in Afghanistan for another year, but Russia abstained from the vote over what it called a “stubborn ignorance of the new realities” after the Taliban seized power.

The hard-line Islamist Taliban has not been recognized internationally as Afghanistan’s government since taking over in August.

Russia wanted the 15-member council to reference the “de-facto authorities” and a need for host country approval of the U.N. presence. The resolution, adopted with 14 votes in favor, cites “relevant authorities” and does not mention host country agreement.

Russia’s abstention from the annual vote comes amid Moscow’s international isolation over its invasion of Ukraine last month. read more

“We wouldn’t want the U.N. mission for assistance in Afghanistan to turn into a United Nations Mission Impossible. Support from the de-facto authorities would allow the mission to effectively fulfill its mandate and to achieve its objectives,” Russia’s U.N. Ambassador Vassily Nebenzia told the council.

Norway’s U.N. Ambassador Mona Juul said the resolution, drafted by Norway, gives the U.N. mission “a solid mandate to engage with all relevant actors on all aspects of its mandate”.

“That includes also Taliban, but it does in no way imply U.N. recognition of Taliban,” she told reporters.

The U.N. mission was established 20 years ago to support efforts to achieve peace and stability in Afghanistan after U.S.-backed Afghan forces ousted the Taliban in late 2001 for refusing to hand over al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden.

The Security Council resolution outlines priorities for the mission to focus on now the Taliban has returned to power. Those include aid delivery, funding for humanitarian activities, protection of human rights and equal participation of women.

A humanitarian crisis has worsened and the economy faces collapse after international development aid dried up since August and Afghan central bank assets were frozen. Many Taliban leaders are under U.S. and U.N. sanctions.

While the Taliban have vowed to respect women’s rights, under the rule of the hard-line Islamist group from 1996 to 2001, women could not work and girls were banned from school.

Reporting by Michelle Nichols; editing by Jonathan Oatis

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