United Nations Security Council Resolution 2405 – The situation in Afghanistan

Resolution 2405 (2018)

The Security Council,

Recalling its previous resolutions on Afghanistan, in particular its resolution 2344 (2017) extending through 17 March 2018 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,

Recalling its recent visit to Kabul from 13–15 January as an affirmation of the international community’s continued and steadfast support for a peaceful, secure, stable and prosperous 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,

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),

Welcoming the start of the fourth 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,

Recalling the announcement by the Independent Election Commission of Afghanistan that parliamentary and district council elections will take place in 2018, emphasizing the importance of accelerated progress on electoral reform in Afghanistan and towards the holding of credible and inclusive parliamentary and district council elections in 2018 and presidential elections in 2019, and stressing the need for continued support of UNAMA in this regard, at the request of the Afghan authorities,

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,

Reiterating the importance of advancing regional, interregional and international cooperation, in support of building a community of shared future for mankind, to promote long-term peace, security, prosperity, sustainable development and human rights in Afghanistan, and welcoming joint efforts to enhance dialogue and collaboration and to advance shared goals of economic development across the region,

Recognizing in this regard the positive impact and ongoing importance of international commitments made at the NATO Warsaw Summit in 2016, and as reiterated in 2017, and the Brussels Conference on Afghanistan in 2016, and welcoming the announcement of the US Strategy for Afghanistan on 21 August 2017 and the European Union Strategy on Afghanistan, adopted on 16 October 2017 as important developments in the context of continued international support for security, development and stability in Afghanistan,

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

Taking note of the Seventh Regional Economic Cooperation Conference on Afghanistan in Ashgabat, Turkmenistan on November 14–15 2017 and the Heart of Asia-Istanbul Process Ministerial Meeting in Baku, Azerbaijan on 1 December 2017,

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, progress and exceptional courage displayed by ANDSF as well as their leading role in securing their country and fighting against international terrorism, a nd welcoming in this regard ongoing commitments to enhance the effectiveness and accountability of Afghan national security institutions,

Expressing its deep concern about the continuous high level of violence in Afghanistan, especially the number of civilian casualties, condemning in the strongest terms all terrorist activity and all violent attacks, reiterating that attacks deliberately targeting civilians are prohibited under international humanitarian law and may amount to war crimes, and calling for compliance with international humanitarian law and international human rights law, as applicable,

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 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 serious concern at the presence and growth of ISIL (Da’esh) affiliates activity 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,

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,

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,

Expressing its deep concern about the continued high level of civilian casualties, as noted in the February 2018 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,

Expressing its deep concern about the significant increase in the cultivation, production, trade and trafficking of illicit drugs in Afghanistan, as reflected in the Afghanistan Opium Survey published by United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) on 15 November 2017, encouraging the government of Afghanistan supported by the international community and regional partners to intensify efforts to address drug production and trafficking in a balanced and integrated approach, in accordance with the principle of common and shared responsibility in addressing the drug problem of Afghanistan, and recognizing the important role played by UNODC in this regard,

Reaffirming that gender equality and women’s and girl’s empowerment, education, human rights, and full participation and engagement in all levels of decision-making are critical to efforts to maintain peace and security in Afghanistan, urging the full implementation of resolution 1325 (2000), and emphasizing the need for protection for women’s rights activists,

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, consistent with a One UN approach,

Adopted by the Security Council at its 8199th meeting, on 8 March 2018.