Foreign media, citing UN Security Council (UNSC) diplomats, reported that the UNSC was still deadlocked on Monday over whether to exempt some Taliban officials from a travel ban.

The UNSC's two permanent members, Russia and China, want to extend the waivers for the Taliban government officials' travel restrictions, according to Agence France Presse (AFP).

On the other hand, the United States, the United Kingdom, and France—the three UNSC permanent members—want to impose travel restrictions on Taliban officials.

A sanctions regime, including asset freezes and travel restrictions, is in place against 135 Taliban officials as a result of a UNSC decision from 2011.

Thirteen of the Taliban officials benefited from a travel ban exemption that was reissued periodically so they could meet with representatives from other countries, for dialogues.

However, the travel ban waiver expired last Friday, August 19, after Ireland rejected to its automatic extension for an additional month.

None of the Taliban figures on the sanctions list are permitted to travel before a potential decision.

Due to the significant deterioration in the rights of women and girls imposed by the Taliban, the Sanctions Committee responsible for supervising Afghanistan had already revoked the travel ban waiver of the two education officials of the Taliban.

The Taliban Ministry of Foreign Affairs also warned that if the UNSC declined to extend the waiver for the travel restrictions, it would prompt them to maintain a“stern stance” that is not“in the interest of anyone.”

The spokesman for the Taliban Foreign Ministry urged the UNSC to“not use sanctions as a pressure tool” and stated that all sanctions against Taliban officials should be withdrawn in a statement shared on Twitter on Saturday.

• Saqalain Eqbal

  Saqalain Eqbal is an Online Editor for Khaama Press. He is a Law graduate from The American University of Afghanistan (AUAF).

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