Afghanistan: Repeat in the United States and Russia




 ISLAMABAD: The United States and Russia on Wednesday presented opposing views on the role of the United Nations in Afghanistan in the Security Council.  Washington has called for stronger human rights oversight in Afghanistan, but Russia has rejected US conditions, accusing it of linking the humanitarian crisis to human rights.



 The mandate of the UN political mission in Afghanistan is coming to an end and needs to be renewed by March 17.  Speaking on the same topic in the Security Council, the United States reiterated its "strong support" for human rights activities to restore aid.



 However, Russia's deputy ambassador to the United Nations, Anna Evstagneva, said Moscow "does not agree that the human rights component should be forcibly attached to the mission.



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 We are against linking the human rights situation to the restoration of humanitarian aid and assistance. "


 The Russian ambassador rejected the US proposal, saying the UN mission "should not be allowed to be a kind of guardian of the interests of those who are not ready to help the Afghans without preconditions."



 But Jeffrey de Laurent, the US deputy ambassador to the United Nations, emphasized that the United States supports the mission's role in overseeing human rights and humanitarian coordination.



 Talking about the protection of children and civilians in Afghanistan, she highlighted the importance of promoting equal participation of women in "all aspects of public life".  On the occasion, the US ambassador also criticized Beijing regarding Afghanistan and said that it is unfortunate that China itself spends more time criticizing US actions instead of focusing on helping the Afghan people.



 "China is the second largest contributor to the United Nations, but whatever China has done to help the people of Afghanistan or for regional security does not match that position," he said.



 It should be noted that China has been sharply critical of most US policies regarding Afghanistan.  He says at a time when Afghanistan is in the throes of a severe humanitarian crisis, Washington needed to provide the money instead of freezing its assets so that .



 China has repeatedly said that it is the money of the Afghan people and they should get it.


 At the start of the Security Council meeting, Deborah Lyons, the UN special envoy for Afghanistan, called on the UN to hold talks with the Taliban without isolating them.  "This is the only way to bring about positive change in Afghanistan," he said.



 "Winter is coming to an end and we think we may have come out of our worst fears of famine and mass starvation," he said.



 Russia's rejection of US proposals and Washington's criticism of China at the summit show that there are sharp differences between the major world powers over Afghanistan and that it will be difficult to reach a united front on the issue in the near future.  Will be.