UN Security Council Unanimously Extends Taliban Sanctions for One Year

The UN Security Council unanimously approved a one-year extension of sanctions against the Taliban and other entities threatening peace and security in Afghanistan on Thursday, February 14, 2026. All 15 members voted in favor of the U.S.-drafted resolution continuing the 1988 sanctions regime, with no renewals of exemptions for certain Taliban leaders.

The council cited ongoing terrorist activities in Afghanistan, discrimination against women and lack of an inclusive government as reasons for maintaining the sanctions without revision. It tasked the monitoring team with gathering information on violations, informing the committee and recommending actions. Over 170 individuals and five organizations, including the Haqqani network, two exchange offices and two Taliban-linked companies, are listed under the 1988 committee sanctions. Most are Taliban leaders and Haqqani members. Related terrorist figures fall under committees 1267/1999 (al-Qaida, ISIS) and 1988/2011 (Taliban).

U.S. representative Tembrou, voting in favor, urged the Taliban to halt all hostage-taking and release detained Americans, accusing them of using detainees as leverage in negotiations, including demands to free an al-Qaida member from Guantanamo. Russia's deputy representative Anna Yuvitsiniya supported maintaining monitoring team contacts with the Taliban to counter ISIS threats, while criticizing efforts to link counter-terrorism to human rights issues. She emphasized comprehensive international cooperation with the Taliban.

China's Fu Cong called on the Taliban to honor commitments, prevent Afghan soil from being used against others, combat ISIS, TTP, al-Qaida and other militants, and lift sanctions. Pakistan's Asim Iftikhar Ahmed urged the Taliban to choose between international engagement or isolation. Britain's representative demanded practical Taliban actions to protect women's rights and fight terrorism. The acting head of Afghanistan's permanent mission to the UN welcomed the resolution as reflecting global attention to Afghanistan, stressing human rights observance, counter-terrorism and inclusive governance.