The UN Security Council has extended the travel restriction exception for prominent members of Afghanistan's Taliban-led government, including First Deputy Prime Minister Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar, for another 90 days. The UNSC said on Friday that the ban, which took effect on Wednesday, will extend until March 21, 2022.
Apart from Baradar, 14 other Taliban members have been placed on the no-fly list, including Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi. "Travels essential for participation in peace and stability dialogues in a variety of nations are exempt from the travel prohibition."
"Individual trips will be determined by the location of peace talks. In addition, the Committee has decided to offer a limited asset freeze exemption that will only be used to fund exempted travel." The Taliban-led government applauded the UNSC's decision, but demanded that its leaders' names be removed from UN and US blacklists.
"Based on the Doha Agreement, it is important to remove the names of Islamic Emirate officials from the US and UN blacklists," said Inamullah Samangani, the Islamic Emirate's deputy spokesman.
The suspension of funding has halted several Afghan electricity projects, Know Afghan's Plight
Omicron up to 70% less likely to require hospital care: Report
Omicron Threat: No foreign tourists or pilgrims at Bethlehem's Christmas celebrations