Afghanistan

The European Union voiced disapproval on Wednesday of the Taliban's provisional government in Afghanistan after the Islamist militants named several leaders, saying they had not kept a promise to include women and other religious groups.

The Taliban on Monday claimed total control over Afghanistan, saying they had won the key battle for the Panjshir Valley, the last remaining holdout of resistance against their rule.

[…] The initial question isn’t “should the UN deploy peacekeepers?” but “what are the risks posed by the situation in Afghanistan?” Rather than start with the supply side (what the UN can offer) it should start with the demand side (what does Afghanistan need).

From ethical dilemmas on data security to worst-case scenarios unfolding in real time – the Taliban’s rise to power in Afghanistan is spurring urgent concern about the safety of data that aid groups have collected over 20 years.

Taliban say Mullah Hebatullah will be the leader under whom a prime minister or president will run the country.

The Taliban’s increasing stranglehold over Afghanistan and the prospect of the United States (US) military forces leaving generated calls for the United Nations (UN) to deploy a peacekeeping operation to the country. Although no official UN discussions about a potential peacekeeping operation in Afghanistan have occurred, desperate civilians and several experts have proposed different types of missions and mandates.

The flights evacuating civilians from Afghanistan may have come to an end, but a deepening humanitarian crisis remains, UN Secretary-General António Guterres declared on Tuesday, as several senior UN officials restated their commitment to stay and deliver urgently needed supplies to the millions in the country who need humanitarian aid to survive.

The UN Security Council passed a resolution on Monday that calls for the Taliban to facilitate safe passage for people wanting to leave Afghanistan, allow humanitarians to access the country, and uphold human rights, including for women and children. Thirteen of the 15 ambassadors voted in favour of the resolution, which further demands that Afghanistan not be used as a shelter for terrorism. Permanent members China and Russia abstained.

United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres denounced Thursday’s deadly attacks outside the airport in the Afghan capital of Kabul, according to U.N. spokesman Stephane Dujarric. … NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg tweeted that he “strongly” condemned “the horrific terrorist attack” and said the priority of the alliance “remains to evacuate as many people to safety as quickly as possible.” ->related: Factbox: Evacuations from Afghanistan by country (Reuters).