UN Security Council to discuss Afghanistan

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, August 5

Having expressed itself against an “Islamic Emirate” in Afghanistan, the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) is now all set to hold a discussion on the situation in the civil war-wracked country late on Friday.

Estonia and Norway, ‘pen holders’ in UNSC on Afghanistan, are talking to other members on the appropriate format to discuss the situation.

India and the western countries are likely to pitch for an Arria format though the time is too short for the UNSC to hear in-person testimonies from non-members and individuals.

The decision to hold the UNSC meeting came a couple of days after an appeal by Afghan Foreign Minister Mohammed Hanif Atmar to S Jaishankar for an emergency UNSC session against the backdrop of escalating violence by the Taliban and foreign terrorist groups in Afghanistan.

This will be the first meeting at the UNSC under India’s presidency for the month of August.

Earlier, a UNSC statement said there was no military solution to the conflict besides declaring that they do not support the restoration of the Islamic Emirate. The Taliban dissimulates on the issue to keep the more extremist factions on its side. One of its leaders recently stated that the question of converting Afghanistan into an Islamic Emirate would be discussed in the peace talks.