Afghanistan seeks UNSC intervention on Taliban peace talks in Pakistan

KABUL : Afghanistan on Sunday approached United Nations Security Council on Pakistan’s engagements with Taliban, complaining that it undermines ongoing peace efforts.

Kabul said the previously unscheduled talks in Islamabad on Monday violates Afghanistan’s sovereignty and the UNSC Resolution 1988 of 2011 that had imposed sanctions on Taliban. Pakistan had invited Taliban to hold talks with officials including Prime Minister Imran Khan. The talks take place as Saudi Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman wraps up a two-day visit to Islamabad on Monday.

Previously scheduled talks between Taliban and US officials are slated for February 25 in Qatar. Saudi Arabia and Qatar are Gulf enemies.

In a letter to the UNSC, Afghanistan’s mission to the UN said that Pakistan’s invitation to the Taliban amounted to a violation of Afghanistan’s national sovereignty. As there was no coordination with the Afghan government, it poses a serious threat to Afghanistan’s security. “The Taliban members were sanctioned by provisions of the UN Security Council s 1988 Committee’s sanctions regime,” it added.

Former president Hamid Karzai had said the Pakistan talks risk engulfing Afghanistan in regional rivalries.