UNSC adopts Afghanistan resolution, China,Russia abstain

The UN Security Council adopted a resolution Monday requiring the Taliban to honour their commitment to let people freely leave Afghanistan, but the measure did not cite a "safe zone" mentioned by French President Emmanuel Macron. The resolution -- drafted by the United States, Britain and France -- was passed with 13 votes in favor and no objections. China and Russia abstained. The resolution says the council expects the Taliban to allow a "safe, secure, and orderly departure from Afghanistan of Afghans and all foreign nationals." "This resolution is not an operational aspect. It's much more on principles, key political messages and warnings," a UN diplomat told reporters. Foreign Secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla was chairing the 15-member Council's meeting in New York. India is President of the UN Security Council for the month of August. Shringla said, the resolution also highlights the importance of women's rights, minorities' rights, particularly Sikhs and Hindu minorities in Afghanistan. It has indicated a need for safe passage of people and to take necessary steps in its engagement with Afghanistan, he added. 

It refers to an August 27 statement by the Taliban in which the hardline Islamists said Afghans would be able to travel abroad, and leave Afghanistan any time they want to, including by any border crossing, both air and ground. The Security Council "expects that the Taliban will adhere to these and all other commitments," the resolution says. Macron had raised hopes of more concrete proposals in comments published in the weekly Journal du Dimanche over the weekend. He said Paris and London would present a draft resolution which "aims to define, under UN control, a 'safe zone' in Kabul, that will allow humanitarian operations to continue," Macron said. "I am very hopeful that it will be successful. I don't see who could be against making humanitarian projects secure," he said. But the UN resolution is far less ambitious. It is not clear whether another resolution proposing a "safe zone" will be circulated later on.