UN Security Council unanimously renews Taliban sanctions Monitoring Team mandate for another 12 months
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Pakistan on Friday reiterated its call for Afghan territory to cease being used for terrorism against neighbouring states, urging steps to prevent what it described as “external spoilers” from exploiting the situation, during a meeting of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC).
The UNSC unanimously adopted a draft resolution renewing the mandate of the Monitoring Team supporting the 1988 Afghanistan Sanctions Committee—responsible for overseeing the Taliban sanctions regime—for a further 12 months. All 15 Council members, including Pakistan, voted in favour of the resolution, extending the mandate until Feb. 17, 2027. The draft was prepared and submitted by the United States. Speaking at the Council, Pakistan’s Permanent Representative to the UN, Asim Iftikhar Ahmad, voiced serious concerns over the continued presence of terrorist groups on Afghan soil, including Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), the Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) and its Majeed Brigade, Islamic State Khorasan (ISIL-K), and Al Qaeda.
“With the adoption of this resolution, the Council sends a clear message to the Taliban authorities that Afghan territory should not be used to threaten or attack any country,” the ambassador said, according to highlights of his remarks shared on X.
He added that the Council also expects all member states to ensure that kidnappers, hostage-takers and terrorist groups do not benefit—directly or indirectly—from ransom payments or political concessions, and to take measures to secure the safe release of hostages. “We call upon the Taliban to prevent terrorist groups from carrying out such actions with impunity and to effectively combat terrorism,” Ahmad said, urging sustained and verifiable counterterrorism measures.
The ambassador said the Council had spoken with a “unanimous voice” in highlighting Afghanistan’s challenges and remained committed to reviewing the sanctions regime as appropriate, taking into account realities on the ground. He expressed hope that the Monitoring Team would continue to report actively and support the work of the 1988 Taliban Sanctions Committee.
“It is for the Afghan authorities to decide what path they wish to choose—whether the path of isolation or the path of peace and prosperity as a responsible member of the international community,” he concluded.
