UNSC to convene on Afghanistan crisis amid calls for mission extension

WEB DESK: The United Nations Security Council is scheduled to meet this coming Monday to address the deteriorating situation in Afghanistan. The high-stakes session arrives at a critical juncture as the country grapples with a deepening humanitarian crisis, a volatile security landscape, and ongoing restrictions on fundamental human rights.

According to Security Council Report, Georgette Gagnon, the Deputy Special Representative and current Officer-in-Charge of the UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA), will lead the briefing. Her testimony will be rooted in the latest quarterly report from Secretary-General António Guterres, which provides a sobering assessment of the Taliban’s governance, the systematic exclusion of women from public life, and the dire economic straits facing millions of Afghan citizens.

Escalating border tensions and humanitarian strain

A primary focus of Monday’s deliberations will be the recent military escalation along the Afghanistan-Pakistan border. Since late February 2026, cross-border clashes and airstrikes have resulted in significant civilian casualties and the displacement of over 66,000 people. UNAMA has already recorded nearly 150 civilian casualties in the past week alone, prompting urgent calls for de-escalation.

The conflict has further paralyzed aid efforts in a country where over 22m people more than half the population require humanitarian assistance. UN agencies have warned that the 2026 Humanitarian Response Plan remains critically underfunded, with only 11pc of the necessary $1.7b currently secured. The Council is expected to explore ways to maintain “principled engagement” with the de facto authorities while ensuring that life-saving aid reaches the most vulnerable populations despite the active hostilities.

China proposes mandate renewal for UNAMA

Beyond the immediate security crisis, the Council will debate the future of the UN’s presence in the country. China, acting as a key penholder on the Afghanistan file, has proposed a draft resolution to extend UNAMA’s mandate before it expires on March 17. The Chinese proposal emphasizes the mission’s “bridging role” and calls for a balanced approach that promotes regional stability and economic reconstruction.

While there is general consensus on the necessity of UNAMA’s continued presence, negotiations are expected to be delicate. Council members remain divided on how to hold the Taliban accountable for their international obligations particularly regarding the rights of women and girls while simultaneously addressing the urgent need to unfreeze Afghan assets and rebuild the nation’s fractured banking system.

Pakistan urges action on terror sanctuaries as UN reviews Afghanistan mission

The UN Security Council is set to convene this Monday to review a report by Secretary-General António Guterres and discuss a China-led resolution to extend UNAMA’s mandate, yet the session faces significant scrutiny from Islamabad over the mission’s impartiality. Pakistan has formally raised concerns that recent UN assessments rely too heavily on the Taliban’s narrative, failing to adequately address the verified existence of terrorist safe havens such as those used by the TTP which continue to launch lethal cross-border attacks against Pakistani civilians and security forces. While over 22m Afghans face a dire humanitarian crisis with only 11pc of the 2026 response plan funded, Pakistan maintains that regional stability is impossible without the de facto authorities fulfilling their counter-terrorism obligations. Consequently, Islamabad is calling on the international community to recognize its right to self-defense and ensure that any future UN mandate prioritises the elimination of militant sanctuaries that threaten the entire region’s peace.