United Nations, June 9: India has urged the United Nations to reassess its sanctions regime on Afghanistan, stating that the current framework should reflect the country’s changed political reality and focus on supporting the Afghan people.
Addressing a United Nations Security Council meeting on the situation in Afghanistan, India’s Permanent Representative to the UN, Ambassador Harish Parvathaneni, said policy measures should encourage positive actions rather than rely solely on punitive approaches.
Parvathaneni said the political landscape in Afghanistan has changed significantly over the past five years and that the existing UN sanctions regime should take these developments into account.
He emphasized the need for policy instruments that benefit the Afghan people and help guide governance in a constructive direction. According to him, measures focused only on punishment are producing diminishing returns.
Several Taliban leaders remain subject to sanctions under the UN Security Council’s 1988 Taliban Sanctions Committee. However, exemptions have been granted in specific cases, including a travel ban waiver for acting Afghan Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi last year.
Highlighting India’s longstanding ties with Afghanistan, Parvathaneni said the history of cooperation between the two countries continues to shape their relationship.
He reaffirmed India’s commitment to peace, stability and development in Afghanistan and noted that Indian humanitarian and capacity-building initiatives have reached all 34 provinces of the country.
The ambassador said India has implemented more than 500 development partnership projects across Afghanistan. He added that visits by Afghan ministers to India last year helped improve coordination and ensure assistance reached intended beneficiaries.
Parvathaneni also expressed concern that Afghans, after enduring years of conflict, are now facing neglect from parts of the international community. He reiterated India’s support for efforts aimed at improving the lives of the Afghan people and promoting long-term stability in the country.
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