KABUL, AFGHANISTAN – The United Nations Security Council is expected to vote on Monday, 16 March, on a draft resolution to extend the mandate of the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) for three months, until 17 June, following disagreements among Council members over the length of the renewal.
According to the security council report, China, which serves as the penholder on Afghanistan in the Council, initially circulated a draft resolution on 3 March proposing a one-year extension of UNAMA’s mandate. Most Council members reportedly supported this approach, stressing the importance of maintaining the mission’s continued presence in Afghanistan without major changes to its mandate.
However, the United States broke the Council’s silence procedure on two occasions and requested a shorter, three-month technical rollover. Washington argued that a brief extension would allow the Council time to conduct a comprehensive review of UNAMA’s mandate and assess whether it remains appropriate given the complex political and security situation in Afghanistan. After further consultations and revisions to the draft text, Council members appeared to converge on the compromise three-month extension.
The draft resolution underscores the importance of maintaining UNAMA’s field presence and calls on the UN Secretary-General to appoint a new Special Representative to lead the mission. The position has remained vacant since September 2025, when the term of former UNAMA head Roza Otunbayeva ended.
The text also expresses serious concern over the continued erosion of human rights and fundamental freedoms in Afghanistan, describing the situation as widespread. It calls on the Taliban to reverse policies restricting the rights of women and girls, including their access to education, employment, healthcare, justice, and participation in public life. The draft further refers to the Taliban’s ban on Afghan women working in UN offices and to a decree on “Criminal Rules of Courts,” which UN reports say contains discriminatory provisions inconsistent with international human rights obligations.
During negotiations, some members, including Russia, urged that the resolution place greater emphasis on economic development and cooperation, arguing that Afghanistan’s long-term stability depends on addressing development needs. As a result, the draft also highlights the importance of supporting Afghanistan’s path toward economic self-reliance.
The resolution additionally expresses concern over civilian casualties caused by unexploded ordnance, particularly among children, and calls on member states to continue supporting mine-action programs in the country. Language related to disaster risks, including heatwaves and desertification, has also been included.
Pakistan, a neighboring country with strong interest in the issue, reportedly pushed for stronger references to counter-terrorism. The final draft calls for efforts to combat terrorism “in all its forms and manifestations” and stresses the need for secure management of weapons and ammunition to prevent their diversion to terrorist groups.
If adopted, the resolution would temporarily extend UNAMA’s mandate until 17 June while allowing the Security Council additional time to review the mission’s future role and priorities in Afghanistan.
