UNSC Discloses Travel Exemptions for 3 Islamic Emirate Officials
The United Nations Security Council Sanctions Committee has disclosed a travel exemption for Khalifa Sirajuddin Haqqani, the acting Minister of Interior.
According to the Security Council’s statement, this exemption was issued under Resolution 1988 and allowed Haqqani to travel to Saudi Arabia for the Umrah pilgrimage between January 23 and February 3, 2025.
The statement also confirms that an 11-day travel exemption was granted to Amir Khan Muttaqi, the acting Minister of Foreign Affairs, and a 3-day exemption to Noor Mohammad Saqib, the acting Minister of Hajj and Religious Affairs.
“On 22 January 2025, the Security Council Committee established pursuant to resolution 1988 (2011) approved a travel ban exemption for Sirajuddin Jallaloudine Haqqani (TAi.144) regarding his visit to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia from 23 January 2025 to 3 February 2025. The purpose of the visit is to perform Umrah,” the statement read.
This comes as the acting Minister of Interior and the General Director of Intelligence traveled to the United Arab Emirates on January 21 of this year.
Zabihullah Mujahid, the spokesperson for the Islamic Emirate, previously said that Khalifa Sirajuddin Haqqani and Abdul Haq Wasiq, during their visit, discussed regional stability and Afghanistan’s economic capabilities with the President of the UAE, Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan.
Zalmai Afghan Yar, a political analyst, told : “Solutions to all conflicts can be found through dialogue. The fact that members of the caretaker government travel to other countries is a positive step. If the United Nations truly wants to fulfill its duty toward Afghanistan, it should allow the country to come out of isolation.”
Bilal Fatemi, another political analyst, said: “When individuals are allowed to travel and engage in discussions, it is a step toward changing political relations between countries. These sanctions are artificial, and in my view, they have had no real impact and are ineffective.”
The UN Security Council Sanctions Committee had previously granted travel exemptions on June 7 this year to Mawlawi Abdul Kabir, the acting Minister of Refugees and Repatriation (who at that time served as the Deputy Prime Minister for Political Affairs), the acting Minister of Interior, the General Director of Intelligence, and the acting Minister of Hajj and Religious Affairs.
