India has been leading the way in the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) and has recently adopted Resolution 2593 regarding the Taliban. This resolution was backed by France, UK and the US, with 13 members, including India, voting for it. No votes were against it while Russia and China abstained. This resolution holds significance as it reflects the expectations of the international community of Afghanistan.
Key Points About Resolution 2593
The resolution emphasises the critical need to fight terrorism in Afghanistan, focusing on certain individuals and groups identified under Resolution 1267 (1999). It urges the Taliban to ensure the safe passage of individuals wanting to depart Afghanistan and grant humanitarian groups access to the country. The resolution also pursues the Taliban to respect human rights, especially for women and children, and establish an inclusive and negotiated political agreement.
Russia and China’s Abstention
Russia chose to abstain because they felt the resolution was not clear on terror threats, didn’t mention the “brain drain” effect of Afghan evacuations and failed to address the economic and humanitarian consequences of US freezing the Afghan government’s US accounts following the Taliban takeover. China agreed on these points and further asserted that the present chaos is a direct result of Western countries’ “haphazard withdrawal”. They believe that engaging with the Taliban is crucial for international community and should provide them active guidance. Both Russia and China wished for specific terrorist groups, namely the Islamic State (ISIS) and the Uighur East Turkestan Islamic Movement (ETIM), to be explicitly mentioned in the document.
India’s Recent Actions
India moved to form a high-level committee composed of EAM (External Affairs Minister), NSA (National Security Adviser) and senior officials to focus on its immediate priorities. This committee is tasked with ensuring the safe return of stranded Indians and preventing Afghanistan from being used as a base for terrorism directed against India. Recently, India’s ambassador to Qatar met with the head of the Taliban’s political office. This marked the first time the government has publicly acknowledged such a meeting. The Taliban leader promised that all issues would be addressed positively.
Afghanistan’s Representation in Multilateral Organizations
With the international representation of Afghanistan under the Taliban being uncertain, questions have been raised about the country’s membership in the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC). These questions have arisen primarily because similar issues are yet to be resolved at the United Nations. SAARC, which has already been facing difficulties, is under further strain due to the current situation in Afghanistan. Afghanistan was admitted into the SAARC as the eighth member in 2007, and conventionally, countries do not lose their membership of regional or global platforms due to domestic political changes. However, a similar question might arise in the Kathmandu-based intergovernmental organisation the International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD).
Way Forward
India is set to chair the 1988 Sanctions committee, monitoring Taliban sanctions, and partake in the decision to extend the mandate of the UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA). Here, India has to balance multiple demands from the US, UK, France, Russia and China. As India’s Afghan policy stands at a crucial juncture, it must reset its Afghanistan policy to protect its interests and maintain relevance in the evolving ‘great game’ surrounding Afghanistan.
