Security Council extends mandate of UN mission in Afghanistan
The United Nations' Security Council decides to extend the mandate of the UN Afghanistan mission by a year, and Taliban says it is open to good relationships with all countries of the world.
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The one-year extension of UNAMA received 14 votes out of 15 from the UN security council
The UN Security Council renewed on Thursday the mandate of the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA).
The extension received 14 votes from the 15-member Security Council with Russia abstaining.
Norway had earlier introduced the resolution, and its envoy to the UN, Mona Juul said the mandate is critical not just to respond to humanitarian and economic crises in the Central Asian country, but also to support the Security Council in achieving "peace and stability in Afghanistan".
Afghanistan's Foreign Minister, Amir Khan Muttaqi had said in February that his country seeks positive relations with all countries of the world and stressed that Afghanistan will never be used against the United States and its allies, while affirming that the US did not abide by the provisions of the Doha agreement signed with it.
Muttaqi pointed out that some Taliban officials are still on the blacklist, and instead of cooperating with the movement, sanctions have been imposed on its members.
The Afghan Minister explained that the Doha agreement stipulated that the "prisoners of the Islamic Emirate would be released gradually within a few days", in addition to removing officials of the Islamic Emirate from the blacklist; however, he said that none have happened so far.
Muttaqi said that Washington has pledged to cooperate in the reconstruction of Afghanistan and will encourage other countries to do the same. Instead of cooperation, it has imposed sanctions.
