Annual briefing to the Security Council by

the Chair of the Committee pursuant to resolution 1988 (2011);

20 December 2022

Statement by Ambassador Ruchira Kamboj

Permanent Representative of India to the UN

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I am pleased to brief the Security Council on the work of the 1988 Committee, in accordance with paragraph 56 of resolution 2255 (2015).

I am also thankful to Special Representative of the Secretary-General, Roza Otunbayeva and the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) for their support of the work of the 1988 Sanctions Committee and continuous assistance to the Analytical Support and Sanctions Monitoring Team.

As this will be my last briefing to the Council as the Chair of the Committee, please also allow me to also thank my 1988 Committee colleagues, the Monitoring Team, and the Secretariat for their excellent cooperation as well as invaluable support over the past two years.

In its latest report to the 1988 Committee of May 2022, the Monitoring Team noted that 41 United Nations-sanctioned individuals occupied cabinet and senior positions in the Taliban administration. This number is now believed to be over 60.

The Monitoring Team report also reiterated that relations between the Taliban and Al- Qaida remained close and is underscored by the presence, both in Afghanistan and the region, of Al-Qaida core leadership and affiliated groups, such as Al-Qaida in the Indian Subcontinent (AQIS). On August 1, the United States announced that at the end of July, the leader of Al-Qaida was killed in a Kabul compound. However, this has not yet been confirmed by the Taliban and Al-Qaeda.

The administration in Kabul remains overwhelming Taliban. Since taking power, concerns have been expressed that the group has reversed policies and gone back on commitments made prior to assuming power, as reported by the Monitoring Team. Concerns have also been expressed on the further erosion of human rights, including the rights of women and girls, as well as lack of progress on inclusive governance.

Regarding narcotic production in Afghanistan, the report of the Monitoring Team stated that opium poppy cultivation, accompanied by an ongoing boom in methamphetamine production and trafficking, remains Afghanistan’s largest illicit economic activity. Despite a decree issued by the Taliban in April 2022, banning the cultivation, use and trafficking of narcotics, including the fanning of opium poppy, the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime reported a 32% increase during 2021 in opium cultivation with 2022 opium prices having soared due to the cultivation ban announcement.

The Monitoring Team has also reported that the ISIL- Khorasan (ISIL-K) (Da’esh) remains a primary threat in Afghanistan and in the region, as has been demonstrated by its regular attacks against Afghanistan’s neighbouring States as well as against minority ethnic and religious communities in the country. Another worrying fact is the attacks of ISIL-K (Da’esh) against diplomatic embassies and their personnel. Moreover, ISIL-K (Da’esh) maintains the potential to attract disillusioned Taliban and foreign fighters into its ranks, thereby enhancing its capability to carry out attacks and its ability to regain territorial hold in the country, as well as the potential to establish so-called Islamic caliphate in the region in the future.

The Monitoring Team has also noted the challenge posed to the Taliban regime by the presence of the National Resistance Front and other anti-Taliban groups, and that potential for further outbreaks of fighting looms large in the absence of real or sustained dialogue.

As you are aware, the 1988 Committee’s desired goal through the use of its sanctions measures is to support a peaceful, stable and prosperous Afghanistan by deterring support to terrorist entities, and to support peace and stability discussions.

A travel ban exemption granted in April 2019 to a group of listed Taliban with a view to enable them to engage in peace and stability discussions in a range of countries expired in August 2022 and was not extended since the Committee was unable to reach a consensus on the same. However, the Committee stood ready to consider exemptions on travel ban on a case-by-case basis based on relevant resolutions and Committee guidelines with the overall objective of aiding peace and stability in Afghanistan.

Humanitarian needs in Afghanistan remain dire. You will recall that following the uncertainty that came in the wake of the August 2021 Taliban takeover of Afghanistan, the Security Council acted to clarify that humanitarian assistance and other activities that support basic human needs in  Afghanistan are not a violation of paragraph 1 (a) of resolution 2255 (2015), and that the processing of payments of funds, other financial assets, economic resources, and provision of goods and services needed to support humanitarian aid delivery are permitted. This opened the door for much needed finance and aid delivery in order to mitigate the impact of crisis. The sanctions committee heard a briefing from the OCHA on 4 April 2022 on the humanitarian activities in Afghanistan.

It remains our hope that the work of the 1988 Committee can, and will, support the creation of an environment conducive for formation of peaceful and stable Afghanistan free of terrorism and drugs.

In this respect, the work of the 1988 Committee and of the Monitoring Team has become even more essential in helping shape change for the better in Afghanistan. Going forward, I would emphasize the need for Member States to further support and assist the work of the Committee and the Monitoring Team as outlined in paragraph 1 of resolution 2255 (2015) and the Annex to resolution 2611 (2021).

In this regard, we welcome the decision of the Council to extend the mandate of the 1988 Sanctions Committee and its Monitoring Team to continue to oversee the implementation of sanctions measures as well as to support the peace and reconciliation process in Afghanistan.

The overall effectiveness of the 1988 sanctions measures relies on the coordination and communication of all relevant Member States. Nowhere is this more important than with Member States of the region who share a common interest in affirming a peaceful and stable Afghanistan.

In the aftermath of the Taliban takeover, the Monitoring Team, as well as its normal interaction with Member States, has focused on greater engagement with Afghanistan’s neighbors to discuss the implementation of 1988 sanction measures as well as to conduct threat assessments. It is my hope that such an outreach will continue and will be reciprocated.

Please allow me once again to reiterate that the Security Council Committee established pursuant to resolution 1988 (2011) and its Monitoring Team seek to support peace and stabilization efforts in Afghanistan.

The Committee looks forward to a continuous fruitful and cooperative relationship with Member States, particularly those neighboring Afghanistan, other relevant stakeholders, and for continued close engagement with UNAMA and other relevant stakeholders in 2023 to ensure full implementation of the 1988 sanctions regime along with supporting negotiations towards securing a peaceful, stable, and inclusive Afghanistan.

Thank you!

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