UN / AFGHANISTAN UNAMA

The UN Security Council voted unanimously to renew the mandate of the UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA), adopting Resolution 2818 (2026) with 15 votes in favor. UNIFEED

• Video Length: 00:03:11
• Production Date: 16 March 2026
• Asset Language: English; Chinese; Russian
• Corporate Name: UNITED NATIONS ASSISTANCE MISSION IN AFGHANISTAN - UNAMA
• Subject Topical: PEACEKEEPING OPERATIONS
• Geographic Subject: AFGHANISTAN
• MAMS Id: 3544862
• Parent Id: 3544618
• Alternate Title: unifeed260316b

Description

STORY: UN / AFGHANISTAN UNAMA
TRT: 03:11
SOURCE: UNIFEED
RESTRICTIONS: NONE
LANGUAGES: ENGLISH / CHINESE / RUSSIAN / NATS

DATELINE: 16 MARCH 2026, NEW YORK CITY / FILE

Shotlist

FILE – NEW YORK CITY

1. Wide shot, UN headquarters

16 MARCH 2026, NEW YORK CITY

2. Wide shot, Security Council
3. SOUNDBITE (English) Dan Negrea, Ambassador, Representative to the United Nations Economic and Social Council and as an Alternate Representative to the Sessions of the General Assembly, United States: 
“Members of the Council have before them document S/2026/170, which contains the text of the draft resolution submitted by China. The Council is ready to proceed to the vote of the draft resolution before it. I shall put the draft resolution to the vote now. With those in favor of the of the draft resolution contained in document S/2026/170 please raise their hand. The result of the voting is as follows. The draft resolution received 15 votes in favor. The draft resolution has been adopted unanimously as RES 2818 (2026).”
4. Wide shot, Security Council
5. SOUNDBITE (Chinese) Fu Cong, Permanent Representative to the United Nations, People's Republic of China:
“As the pen holder, China thanks the Council members for their support and cooperation. At present, Afghanistan faces multiple challenges. It is imperative that the Afghan government and the international community maintain communication, move towards each other, gradually address each other's legitimate concerns, and help Afghanistan achieve lasting stability, development and prosperity.”
6. Wide shot, Security Council
7. SOUNDBITE (Russian) Anna Evstigneeva, Deputy Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Russian Federation:
“We welcome the efforts undertaken by the Chinese pen holders on the Afghan dossier, with a view to finding compromise-based ways forward. The outcome is a collective product stressing support for the Afghan people in finding a peaceful and prosperous Afghanistan free from narcotic drugs.”
8. Wide shot, Security Council
9. SOUNDBITE (English) Muhammad Usman Iqbal Jadoon, Ambassador, Deputy Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Pakistan:
“Pakistan supports UNAMA in promoting peace, security and stability in Afghanistan, which confronts multiple challenges, particularly the increasing threat of terrorism, human rights violations, narcotics trafficking, and diminishing humanitarian aid. We commend China for its sterling role as pen holder and for its sincere efforts to forge consensus by taking on board the concern of all council members. We welcome the unanimous adoption of this resolution.” 
10. Wide shot, Security Council
11. SOUNDBITE (English) Dan Negrea, Ambassador, Representative to the United Nations Economic and Social Council and as an Alternate Representative to the Sessions of the General Assembly, United States: 
“As the representative of the United States we look forward to working with other Council members between now and June 17th to find ways to streamline this mission's mandate, remove functions that duplicate other efforts or that cannot be carried out in the current environment, and ensure that UNAMA is mandated to carry out activities that contribute directly to advancing peace and security in Afghanistan and the region.”
12. Wide shot, Security Council
 

Storyline

The UN Security Council voted unanimously to renew the mandate of the UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA), adopting Resolution 2818 (2026) with 15 votes in favor.

China, which drafted the resolution, told the Security Council members today (16 Mar) Afghanistan faced urgent challenges requiring coordinated action. “It is imperative that the Afghan government and the international community maintain communication, move towards each other, gradually address each other's legitimate concerns, and help Afghanistan achieve lasting stability, development and prosperity,” Chinese Permanent Representative Fu Cong said.

Russia's Deputy Permanent Representative Anna Evstigneeva said Moscow welcomed Beijing's role in brokering the text. “The outcome is a collective product stressing support for the Afghan people in finding a peaceful and prosperous Afghanistan free from narcotic drugs,” she said.

Pakistan's Deputy Permanent Representative Muhammad Usman Iqbal Jadoon said Afghanistan “confronts multiple challenges, particularly the increasing threat of terrorism, human rights violations, narcotics trafficking, and diminishing humanitarian aid.” He said Pakistan supported UNAMA's role in promoting peace and stability and commended China for its “sincere efforts to forge consensus by taking on board the concern of all council members.”

The United States signaled it would push for changes to the mission ahead of a June deadline. Negrea said Washington looked “forward to working with other Council members between now and June 17th to find ways to streamline this mission's mandate, remove functions that duplicate other efforts or that cannot be carried out in the current environment, and ensure that UNAMA is mandated to carry out activities that contribute directly to advancing peace and security in Afghanistan and the region.”