United Nations: The 15-member United Nations Security Council, including India, voted unanimously to split a key sanctions list on al-Qaeda and Taliban, a move aimed at backing the Afghan government’s reconciliation efforts with insurgents.
The Council voted Friday night to adopt two resolutions — a new blacklist of individuals and organisations linked to al-Qaeda and another of those connected with Taliban whose activities focus on Afghanistan.
The separate lists are aimed at highlighting differences between the two outfits and make it easier to add and remove people and entities. The Council also established specific criteria for having an individual delisted.
Following the UNSC move, Taliban and al-Qaeda will be treated separately when it comes to enforcement of the travel ban, asset freeze and arms embargo imposed in 1999.
India, however, pointed out that the linkages between different non-state actors and al-Qaeda were close, but it voted in favour to send an unequivocal message. (PTI)