UNSC Briefing and Meeting on Afghanistan/UNAMA

(2 March 2022; 1000 hrs)

Statement by Ambassador T.S. Tirumurti

Permanent Representative of India to the United Nations

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Madame President,

I thank the Special Representative Ms. Deborah Lyons for her briefing. I also thank Ms. Mariam Safi for her insights.

2. As an immediate neighbour with strong linkages to Afghan people, we are concerned about recent developments in Afghanistan, especially the deteriorating humanitarian situation. India supported the Security Council Resolution 2615 that provided for humanitarian assistance to Afghanistan, while ensuring that the Security Council would continue to exercise its oversight to guard against any possible diversion of funds and misuse of exemptions from sanctions.

3. We hope that the ‘humanitarian carve outs’ of this Resolution are fully utilized by the UN agencies and their aid partners. In this context, we reiterate that humanitarian assistance should be based on principles of neutrality, impartiality, and independence. The disbursement of humanitarian aid should be non-discriminatory and accessible to all, irrespective of ethnicity, religion or political belief. In particular, the assistance should reach the most vulnerable first, including women, children and minorities.

4. Over the past several months, India has vastly scaled up humanitarian assistance to the people of Afghanistan. To tide over the dire food insecurity situation, we have recently committed 50,000 MT of wheat, out of which 2500 MT is being distributed through the World Food Programme. We have also delivered 500,000 doses of COVID vaccines, 13 tons of essential lifesaving medicines, as well as winter clothing, which are being distributed through WHO and Indira Gandhi Children’s Hospital in Kabul.

5. As a contiguous neighbor and long-standing partner of Afghanistan, India has direct stakes in ensuring the return of peace and stability. Our approach to Afghanistan, as always, will be guided by our historical friendship and our special relationship with the people of Afghanistan.

Madame President,

6. The expectations of the international community on the way forward in Afghanistan have been clearly set forth in the Council’s Resolution 2593. The expectations of the international community as outlined in UNSCR 2593 must be adequately reflected in the upcoming mandate. These relate to ensuring that the territory of Afghanistan is not used to launch terrorist attacks against other countries; formation of a truly inclusive and representative government; combating terrorism and drug trafficking; and, preserving the rights of women, children and minorities. This is essential.

Madame President,

7. Terrorism continues to pose a serious threat to Afghanistan and the region. There are serious concerns about the continued presence of Al Qaeda and the increase in recruitment to ISIL-K. We know from the reports of the Monitoring Team that all countries in the region, especially the Central Asian countries, share grave concerns about the possibility of terrorism from Afghanistan affecting their own security. In this regard, the Security Council has noted the commitment of the Taliban not to allow the use of the Afghan soil for terrorism, including from terrorists and terrorist groups designated under Resolution 1267. We need to see concrete progress in ensuring that such proscribed terrorists, entities or their aliases do not get any support, tacit or direct, either from Afghan soil or from the terror sanctuaries based in the region.

Madam President,

8. India calls for an inclusive dispensation in Afghanistan which represents all sections of the Afghan society, especially women. A broad-based, inclusive, and representative formation is necessary for both domestic and international engagement.

9. Peace and security in Afghanistan is a critical imperative that all of us need to collectively strive for. The recent developments in Afghanistan will have a significant impact on the neighbouring countries and the wider region. We have seen the report of the Secretary General on his outlook for UNAMA. We will be working constructively with other members of the Council to ensure that the new mandate of the UNAMA focuses on the welfare, well-being and expectations of the Afghan people. The ultimate objective for us is to ensure peace and stability with the interests of Afghan people at its core.

I thank you.

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