Draft UN Resolution Drops Reference to Taliban as 'Ruling Authorities'

A draft resolution before the United Nations Security Council proposes extending the mandate of the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan, known as UNAMA, until June 2027. In the latest version, references to the Taliban as the "ruling authorities" have been removed and replaced with the term "relevant authorities."

The changes follow objections from the United States, the United Kingdom, and France. These countries argued that the original phrasing could be seen as granting legitimacy or recognition to the Taliban. China and Russia, however, supported keeping "ruling authorities" on the grounds that it reflects the political reality in Afghanistan.

The draft also requests that Secretary-General Antonio Guterres conduct a strategic review of UNAMA and submit a written report. Provisions addressing human rights, including the documentation of sexual and gender-based violence and the rights of women and children, remain in the text.

Security Council members remain divided over references to the Doha process compared to regional initiatives, resulting in the removal of some related phrases from the draft.