UN Security Council to vote on extension of Afghanistan Sanctions Committee’s mandate

KABUL: The UN Security Council will vote on a draft resolution regarding the extension of the mandate for the support team of the Afghanistan Sanctions Committee 1988 for the current month. The current mandate of this committee is set to expire on February 17, and it is expected to be extended for another year. If the Security Council approves the extension, the Taliban will remain under UN sanctions for an additional year. The sanctions include travel bans, arms embargoes, and the freezing of assets related to the Taliban and associated entities and groups. Reports indicate that despite claims of stability, women, girls, and minorities under Taliban rule have not benefited from peace and security. The situation for women and girls remains dire, with many denied access to education, employment, and healthcare services. Women’s rights activists have urged the Security Council to increase pressure on the Taliban to restore the rights of women and girls that have been stripped away.