UN Adopts Resolution on Afghanistan, Calls for End to Violence

The United Nations General Assembly’s resolution on the situation in Afghanistan was adopted on Friday by a majority of 131 votes, supporting an inclusive Afghan-led and Afghan-owned peace process and calling on all Afghan actors to make sustained efforts to reduce and end violence in the country.

The UN members in this resolution reaffirmed their strong commitment to the sovereignty, independence, territorial integrity and national unity of Afghanistan.

It also says that the UN members respect Afghanistan’s multicultural, multi-ethnic and historical heritage and welcome the efforts by Afghanistan in the framework of the Transformation Decade (2015–2024) to consolidate its sovereignty through strengthening a fully functioning, sustainable State in the service of its people, with the goal of becoming fully self-reliant.

The resolution recalls the importance of the development of the institutions of the Government of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, including at the subnational level, the strengthening of the rule of law, democratic processes and civil society, the fight against corruption, the continuation of justice sector reform, the promotion of an inclusive Afghan-led and Afghan-owned peace process, including the full and meaningful participation of women and youth in the peace process, in accordance with resolutions 1325 (2000) of 31 October 2000 and 2250 (2015) of 9 December 2015 and their subsequent resolutions.

It also reaffirms the long-term partnership between the Government of Afghanistan and the international community based on their strategic consensus and mutual commitments, as revised and renewed with the Afghanistan Partnership Framework, adopted at the 2020 Afghanistan Conference, held in Geneva on 23 and 24 November 2020, with the aim of continuing to strengthen national ownership and leadership.

The UN members in the resolution also reaffirm the commitment of the international community to continuing to support the training, equipping, financing and development of the capacity of the Afghan National Defense and Security Forces, including as agreed upon in the Summit Declarations of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization on Afghanistan, and honoring the memory of the men and women of the Afghan and international security forces who have given their lives in the course of duty.

The UN members in the resolution reiterate their serious concern about the security situation in Afghanistan and the urgent need to tackle the challenges facing the country, in particular the region-based violence, attacks and all forms of terrorist and criminal activities and all violent and unlawful attacks and killings of the Taliban, including the Haqqani Network, as well as Al-Qaida, Daesh and their affiliates, and other terrorist groups, and foreign terrorist fighters.

The UN resolution expresses its deep concern about the threat posed by terrorism to Afghanistan and the region and over the continuing presence of Al-Qaida, Daesh as well as other international terrorist organizations and their affiliated groups in Afghanistan, condemning in the strongest terms all terrorist activity and all terrorist attacks.

Denmark’s mission in UN said the resolution comes at a critical time for Afghanistan and that “we are reminded that peace must build on human rights gains for all Afghans, including women, girls and minority groups.”

Afghanistan’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Adela Raz, said thanked the German mission to UN “for the skillful and balanced approach in negotiating and drafting the very important General Assembly resolution on the situation in Afghanistan.”

Norwegian mission in UN said Norway encourages both negotiating sides to continue engaging, give priority to ending violence, and seek a political settlement that protects rights of all Afghans.

“Protection of civilians, especially children and youth, must be a main priority,” the mission said.