Members of the United Nations Security Council were divided in a recent meeting on granting immunity to some Taliban officials from travel bans, while China and Russia have supported it.
According to AFP, with reference to diplomatic sources, some members of the Security Council have based their opposition on the Taliban’s violation of human rights and failure to fight terrorism.
Under the Security Council Resolution 2011, sanctions are imposed on 135 Taliban leaders, which include a travel ban and also freezing of assets.
Thirteen of these leaders were given exceptions to the travel ban so they may meet with foreign officials abroad.
However, due to Ireland’s opposition to an additional one-month extension, the exemption period ended last Friday.
According to media reports quoting diplomatic sources, China and Russia backed the expansion of travel restriction immunity during the most recent Security Council meeting.
The majority of Western nations believe that additional Taliban commanders should be taken off the list.
China stated last week, when presiding over the Security Council meeting, that exceptions to travel bans are required and that it would be counterproductive to link them to human rights.
The Taliban’s assurance that they won’t shelter terrorists has also come under scrutiny following the killing of al-Qaeda leader Ayman al-Zawahiri in a drone attack in Kabul, the capital of Afghanistan.
