New Delhi: The United Nations Security Council in a crucial meeting on Monday adopted a resolution demanding the Taliban to not let the Afghanistan territory be used to threaten or attack any country or to shelter and train terrorists.
The resolution was adopted on Monday under India's presidency by a divided Council where China and Russia were the outliers who abstained on the vote on the resolution, but refraining from vetoing it in view of the overwhelming global support for the sentiments behind it. All the other 13 members voted for it.
The resolution -- drafted by the United States, Britain and France -- said that it expects that the Taliban to adhere to commitments made by it regarding the safe, secure, and orderly departure from Afghanistan of Afghans and foreign nationals.
As quoted by news agency PTI, the resolution said it strongly "demands that Afghan territory not be used to threaten or attack any country or to shelter or train terrorists, or to plan or to finance terrorist acts, and reiterates the importance of combating terrorism in Afghanistan, including those individuals and entities designated pursuant to resolution 1267 (1999), and notes the Taliban's relevant commitments."
The resolution also demanded that the Taliban uphold human rights, provide safe passage to those who want to leave Afghanistan and allow humanitarian aid. Through the resolution, the council also expressed concerns over the "dangerous security situation" around the Hamid Karzai International Airport.
After presiding over the Security Council meeting on Afghanistan, India's Foreign Secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla told reports that Today's UN Security Council Resolution is a very important and timely pronouncement coming as it does during India's Presidency of the UN Security Council.
According to reports, he further said that India was "extremely happy" with the resolution as it "highlights the will of the Council to take necessary steps that are very important for the international community in its engagement with Afghanistan."