The U.N. Security Council on Monday voted unanimously to extend the mandate of the U.N. Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) for another year, while calling for a strategic review of its operations amid sharp criticism of the Taliban government and renewed pressure to streamline the mission.
Afghanistan continues to face one of the world’s most severe humanitarian crises, and since taking power in Kabul in 2021, the Taliban has imposed sweeping restrictions on women and girls, including limits on education, employment and sports. The measures have drawn widespread international condemnation and remain a central point of contention in global diplomacy over Afghanistan.
The 15-member council approved the extension in a resolution drafted by China, which also requests that the U.N. secretary-general conduct a strategic review of UNAMA and submit a report by the end of March next year. The decision reflects ongoing debate among member states over how the mission should adapt to conditions on the ground.
China’s U.N. Ambassador Fu Cong said Beijing hoped the Taliban authorities would take steps to improve human rights conditions, particularly for women, and present a more open and inclusive international posture, according to remarks cited by Reuters.
Several members, including China, also pressed for full access for Afghan female U.N. staff who have reportedly been barred by the Taliban from entering U.N. facilities.
The U.S. representative, Jennifer Locetta, welcomed the planned review but emphasized the need for a “streamlined, fit-for-purpose” mandate for UNAMA. She also said the Taliban must meet counterterrorism obligations, respect human rights and end what she described as “hostage diplomacy,” referring to the detention of American citizens in Afghanistan.
Russia’s representative, Anna Evstigneeva, supported the idea of a review but said it should be conducted in coordination with Afghan authorities and focus on humanitarian and development priorities rather than external oversight driven by Western governments.
In March, the Security Council extended UNAMA’s mandate for a shorter-than-usual three-month period after the United States called for a reassessment of U.N. assistance programs, citing Taliban restrictions on women’s rights and alleged obstruction of humanitarian efforts.
