Latest news with #UNSCResolution1988
The Hindu
4 days ago
- Politics
- The Hindu
Afghan Foreign Minister's planned visit to Pakistan cancelled, likely due to UNSC travel ban
A UN Security Council travel ban is widely thought to be behind the cancellation of a planned visit by Afghan Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi to Pakistan, according to a media report. Mr. Muttaqi was expected in Islamabad on August 4, continuing the recent high-level contacts initiated by Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar's visit to Kabul in April, a move that led to a thaw in bilateral ties, Dawn reported. The rapprochement was brokered by China. However, diplomatic sources said that the United States had blocked a UN Security Council exemption that would have allowed Mr. Muttaqi to travel to Pakistan, the paper said on Friday (August 8, 2025). As the Afghan Foreign Minister is under international sanctions, he requires special approval from the UN sanctions committee for any foreign travel. Citing sources, the paper said that Washington delayed its decision until the last moment and ultimately refused to grant the waiver, scuttling the trip. As a key player in the UN Security Council, the U.S. holds significant sway in the 1988 Sanctions Committee, which manages sanctions like travel bans, asset freezes, and arms embargoes targeting Taliban-linked individuals and groups under UNSC Resolution 1988 (2011). It is believed the U.S. blocked the waiver for Taliban's FM to visit Pakistan, driven by worries about their growing ties with China, the paper said. The U.S. has often clashed with China and Russia at the committee, who advocate for more lenient exemptions, creating tensions within the committee's efforts to promote stability in Afghanistan. When asked whether Washington had blocked Mr. Muttaqi's visit to Pakistan at a recent briefing, a State Department spokesperson simply responded with: 'We do not comment on rumours.' The Foreign Office on Friday hinted that 'procedural issues' had hindered the trip. 'There are certain procedural issues we are working through,' Foreign Office spokesman Shafqat Ali Khan said when asked by journalists about media reports on Mr. Muttaqi's aborted trip. The spokesperson also clarified that no official dates had been confirmed for the Afghan Foreign Minister's visit, so there was 'no question of cancellation or postponement'. Mr. Khan said that both Kabul and Islamabad are working to address the matter and added, 'Once these procedural matters are resolved, we look forward to welcoming the Afghan Foreign Minister to Pakistan.'
India Today
4 days ago
- Politics
- India Today
Taliban Foreign Minister's Pak visit blocked by US due to UN travel ban: Report
A UN Security Council travel ban is widely thought to be behind the cancellation of a planned visit by Afghan Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi to Pakistan, according to a media was expected in Islamabad on August 4, continuing the recent high-level contacts initiated by Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar's visit to Kabul in April, a move that led to a thaw in bilateral ties, Dawn rapprochement was brokered by China. However, diplomatic sources said that the United States had blocked a UN Security Council exemption that would have allowed Muttaqi to travel to Pakistan, the paper said on the Afghan Foreign Minister is under international sanctions, he requires special approval from the UN sanctions committee for any foreign sources, the paper said that Washington delayed its decision until the last moment and ultimately refused to grant the waiver, scuttling the a key player in the UN Security Council, the US holds significant sway in the 1988 Sanctions Committee, which manages sanctions like travel bans, asset freezes, and arms embargoes targeting Taliban-linked individuals and groups under UNSC Resolution 1988 (2011).It is believed the US blocked the waiver for Taliban's Foreign Minister to visit Pakistan, driven by worries about their growing ties with China, the paper US has often clashed with China and Russia at the committee, who advocate for more lenient exemptions, creating tensions within the committee's efforts to promote stability in asked whether Washington had blocked Muttaqi's visit to Pakistan at a recent briefing, a State Department spokesperson simply responded with, "We do not comment on rumours."The Foreign Office on Friday hinted that "procedural issues" had hindered the trip."There are certain procedural issues we are working through," Foreign Office spokesperson Shafqat Ali Khan said when asked by journalists about media reports on Muttaqi's aborted spokesperson also clarified that no official dates had been confirmed for the Afghan Foreign Minister's visit, so there was "no question of cancellation or postponement".Khan said that both Kabul and Islamabad are working to address the matter and added, "Once these procedural matters are resolved, we look forward to welcoming the Afghan foreign minister to Pakistan."- Ends IN THIS STORY#Pakistan
Mint
4 days ago
- Politics
- Mint
US blocked Afghanistan Foreign Minister's planned visit to Pakistan: What happened exactly
The United States repotedly blocked a planned visit by Afghanistan's Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi to Pakistan as it refused to approve a United Nations Security Council (UNSC) travel ban exemption. According to Pakistan-based media outlet Dawn, Muttaqi was scheduled to visit Pakistan on August 4. This was after Pakistani Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar visited to Kabul. Dar's visit was facilitated by China. Citing diplomatic sources, Dawn reported that as the Afghan foreign minister is under international sanctions, he is barred from foreign travel without a special waiver from the UN sanctions committee. The committee, set up under UNSC Resolution 1988 (2011), oversees travel bans, asset freezes, and arms embargoes on Taliban-linked figures. The Dawn report stated that Washington delayed its decision until the last moment before ultimately refusing to grant the waiver, effectively scuttling the trip. Dawn noted that the US decision is believed to have been influenced by concerns over the Taliban government's growing closeness with China. When asked at a recent briefing whether the US had blocked Muttaqi's travel, the State Department said, "We do not comment on rumours," Dawn reported. Pakistan's Foreign Office, however, did not directly confirm the US role. At a weekly media briefing, Foreign Office spokesperson Shafqat Ali Khan told reporters there were "certain procedural issues" being worked out and maintained that no official dates had been confirmed for Muttaqi's visit. As quoted by Dawn, he added, 'Once these procedural matters are resolved, we look forward to welcoming the Afghan foreign minister to Pakistan.'
Hindustan Times
4 days ago
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
Afghan FM's Pak visit blocked by US over UN travel ban waiver: Reports
The United States blocked a planned visit by Afghanistan's Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi to Pakistan by refusing to approve a United Nations Security Council (UNSC) travel ban exemption, according to a report by Dawn. US decision is believed to have been influenced by concerns over the Taliban government's growing closeness with China.(AP File Photo) According to Dawn, Muttaqi was scheduled to visit Pakistan on August 4 as part of a recent push to improve relations between Kabul and Islamabad. The engagement followed Pakistani Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar's earlier visit to Kabul, which had been facilitated by China. Citing diplomatic sources, Dawn said that as the Afghan foreign minister is under international sanctions, he is barred from foreign travel without a special waiver from the UN sanctions committee. The committee, set up under UNSC Resolution 1988 (2011), oversees travel bans, asset freezes, and arms embargoes on Taliban-linked figures. The Dawn report stated that Washington delayed its decision until the last moment before ultimately refusing to grant the waiver, effectively scuttling the trip. Dawn noted that the US decision is believed to have been influenced by concerns over the Taliban government's growing closeness with China. When asked at a recent briefing whether the US had blocked Muttaqi's travel, the State Department said, "We do not comment on rumours," Dawn reported. Pakistan's Foreign Office, however, did not directly confirm the US role. At a weekly media briefing, Foreign Office spokesperson Shafqat Ali Khan told reporters there were "certain procedural issues" being worked out and maintained that no official dates had been confirmed for Muttaqi's visit. As quoted by Dawn, he added, "Once these procedural matters are resolved, we look forward to welcoming the Afghan foreign minister to Pakistan." The Dawn report also highlighted that the US has often clashed with China and Russia in the UNSC sanctions committee, with Beijing and Moscow supporting more lenient travel exemptions for Taliban officials.
Mint
4 days ago
- Politics
- Mint
US blocked Afghanistan's Foreign Minister's planned visit to Pakistan: What happened exactly
The United States repotedly blocked a planned visit by Afghanistan's Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi to Pakistan as it refused to approve a United Nations Security Council (UNSC) travel ban exemption. According to Pakistan-based media outlet Dawn, Muttaqi was scheduled to visit Pakistan on August 4. This was after Pakistani Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar visited to Kabul. Dar's visit was facilitated by China. Citing diplomatic sources, Dawn reported that as the Afghan foreign minister is under international sanctions, he is barred from foreign travel without a special waiver from the UN sanctions committee. The committee, set up under UNSC Resolution 1988 (2011), oversees travel bans, asset freezes, and arms embargoes on Taliban-linked figures. The Dawn report stated that Washington delayed its decision until the last moment before ultimately refusing to grant the waiver, effectively scuttling the trip. Dawn noted that the US decision is believed to have been influenced by concerns over the Taliban government's growing closeness with China. When asked at a recent briefing whether the US had blocked Muttaqi's travel, the State Department said, "We do not comment on rumours," Dawn reported. Pakistan's Foreign Office, however, did not directly confirm the US role. At a weekly media briefing, Foreign Office spokesperson Shafqat Ali Khan told reporters there were "certain procedural issues" being worked out and maintained that no official dates had been confirmed for Muttaqi's visit. As quoted by Dawn, he added, "Once these procedural matters are resolved, we look forward to welcoming the Afghan foreign minister to Pakistan." The Dawn also highlighted that the US has often clashed with China and Russia in the UNSC sanctions committee, with Beijing and Moscow supporting more lenient travel exemptions for Taliban officials.
