By The Cry Of Faith
9th September, 2021

The U.S., China and Russia are facing an early test of whether they can collaborate to keep Afghanistan from sinking even deeper into crisis as they negotiate the renewal of a long-running United Nations mission that’s scheduled to expire next week.

The UN Security Council will meet Thursday afternoon to debate the situation in Afghanistan and how to extend the organization’s operation there, which has a mandate through Sept. 17. Scheduled speakers include UN envoy to Afghanistan Deborah Lyons and activist Malala Yousafzai.

The mission has served as a critical link for humanitarian and human rights programs in Afghanistan, including support for gender equality efforts. That could be a flashpoint with the new Taliban-led government because the group has a long history of abuses against women and girls despite recent promises of moderation. 

We want to see human rights issues addressed in Afghanistan, and in particular, the rights of women and girls,” Irish Ambassador Geraldine Byrne Nason, who’s presiding over the Security Council this month, told reporters. “The measure of the Taliban and their plans for their new phase in Afghanistan will be how they treat women and girls, and we will absolutely hold them to account on that.”

Early signs are that the mission will be extended despite differences among the Security Council rivals over how to deal with Afghanistan after the Taliban takeover, according to diplomats involved in the talks. A vote isn’t expected until next week, they said. China and Russia have made clear they’re less inclined than the U.S. and its allies to pass judgment on the Taliban.

Thanks For Reading.

Tags:

• Politics,
• Finance,
• Travel,

0 0 Copy Link and Share