United Nations Security Council Resolution 2344 – The situation in Afghanistan

Resolution 2344 (2017)

The Security Council,

Recalling its previous resolutions on Afghanistan, in particular its resolution 2274 (2016) extending through 17 March 2017 the mandate of the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA),

Stressing the important role that the United Nations will continue to play in promoting peace and stability in Afghanistan,

Reaffirming its strong commitment to the sovereignty, independence, territorial integrity and national unity of Afghanistan, as well as its continued support for the Government and people of Afghanistan as they rebuild their country and strengthen democratic institutions,

Stressing the central importance of a comprehensive and inclusive Afghan-led and Afghan-owned political process to support reconciliation for all those who are prepared to reconcile as laid forth in the Kabul Conference Communiqué and further elaborated in the Bonn Conference Conclusions, aimed at creating a peaceful and prosperous future for all the people of Afghanistan and welcoming efforts to advance the peace process, including via the High Peace Council,

Welcoming the start of the third year of the National Unity Government and emphasizing the importance of all parties in Afghanistan working within its framework in order to achieve a peaceful and prosperous future for all the people of Afghanistan,

Emphasizing the vital role of the Kabul Process and welcoming the strategic consensus between the Government of Afghanistan and the international community on the Self-Reliance through Mutual Accountability Framework (SMAF),

Stressing the importance of a comprehensive approach to address the security, economic, governance and development challenges in Afghanistan, which are of an interconnected nature, and recognizing that there is no purely military solution to ensure the stability of Afghanistan,

Stressing the crucial importance of advancing regional cooperation in the spirit of win-win cooperation as an effective means to promote security, stability and economic and social development in Afghanistan and the region to create a community of shared future for mankind,

Recognizing in this regard the positive impact and ongoing importance of international commitments made in 2016 in the NATO Warsaw Summit and the Brussels Conference on Afghanistan,

Welcoming the contribution of the International Contact Group (ICG) to the United Nations efforts in coordinating and broadening international support for Afghanistan,

Recalling the Government of Afghanistan’s commitments to strengthen and improve Afghanistan’s electoral process, and emphasizing the need for continued support of UNAMA, at the request of the Afghan authorities,

Underlining the importance of operationally capable, professional, inclusive and sustainable Afghan National Defence and Security Forces (ANDSF) for meeting Afghanistan’s security needs, stressing the commitment of the international community to support their further development, and commending the resiliency and exceptional courage displayed by ANDSF as well as their leading role in securing their country and fighting against international terrorism,

Noting the ongoing work of the Committee established pursuant to Security Council resolution 1988 (2011) and the continuation of the cooperation of the Afghan Government, the High Peace Council and UNAMA with the Committee, including its Analytical Support and Sanctions Monitoring Team, and expressing its concern over the increasing cooperation of the Taliban with other organizations involved in criminal activities,

Recognizing the continuously alarming threats posed by the Taliban, including the Haqqani Network, as well as by Al-Qaida, ISIL (Da’esh) affiliates and other terrorist groups, violent and extremist groups and illegal armed groups, as well as the challenges related to the efforts to address such threats, and expressing its serious concern over the harmful consequences of violent and terrorist activities by all the above-mentioned groups on the capacity of the Afghan Government to guarantee the rule of law, to provide security and basic services to the Afghan people, and to ensure the improvement and protection of their human rights and fundamental freedoms,

Expressing serious concern at the presence and potential growth of ISIL (Da’esh) affiliates in Afghanistan, posing serious threats to the security of Afghanistan and the countries of the region, including in Central Asia, and affirming its support to the efforts by the ANDSF to combat them as well as assistance by Afghanistan’s international partners in this regard,

Expressing concern with the serious threat that anti-personnel mines, explosive remnants of war and improvised explosive devices (IED) pose to the civilian population, and noting the need to enhance coordination and information -sharing, both between Member States and with the private sector,

Expressing its deep concern about the record number of civilian casualties, as noted in the February 2017 UNAMA report on Protection of Civilians in armed conflict and condemning the suicide attacks, often in civilian-populated areas, and the targeted and deliberate killings, in particular of women and girls, including high-level women officials and those promoting women’s rights, as well as journalists,

Reaffirming that all parties to armed conflict must take all feasible steps to ensure the protection of civilians, especially women, children and displaced persons, including from sexual and gender-based violence, and that perpetrators of such violence must be held accountable,

Encouraging the international community and regional partners to further effectively support Afghan-led sustained efforts to address drug production and trafficking in a balanced and integrated approach, and recognizing the important role played by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) in this regard,

Expressing serious concern over the humanitarian situation in Afghanistan, and supporting the Afghan Government’s essential role in the provision of humanitarian assistance to its citizens in coordination with efficient and effective delivery by United Nations agencies, funds and programmes,

Adopted by the Security Council at its 7902nd meeting, on 17 March 2017.