The UN Security Council has voted unanimously to treat the Taliban and Al-Qaeda separately.
Up till now, UN sanctions have targeted the Taliban and Al-Qaeda together.
One resolution established a Taliban blacklist and the other an Al-Qaeda blacklist of individuals facing travel bans and asset freezes.
The U.S. Ambassador to the UN Susan Rice said the council had taken "important steps" to respond to the evolving and distinct threats posed by Al-Qaeda and the Taliban.
Germany's UN Ambassador Peter Wittig, who is also the chairman of the Security Council's Al-Qaeda and Taliban Sanctions Committee, said the move would help reconciliation efforts in Afghanistan.
"There are [now] clearer criteria for listings and de-listings in the Taliban regime. There is a role for the Afghan government in the listing and de-listing process. The Afghan government will have to be consulted, so it gives them additional ownership in the whole process," Wittig said.
Russia's UN Ambassador Vitaly Churkin cautioned that Taliban de-listings have to be done only on a case-by-case basis and after careful consideration.
Afghanistan's UN Ambassador Zahir Tanin told Reuters in a telephone interview earlier this week that the move "gives us more flexibility. It will help to create a regime of engagement for people to join the peace process."
Up till now, UN sanctions have targeted the Taliban and Al-Qaeda together.
One resolution established a Taliban blacklist and the other an Al-Qaeda blacklist of individuals facing travel bans and asset freezes.
The U.S. Ambassador to the UN Susan Rice said the council had taken "important steps" to respond to the evolving and distinct threats posed by Al-Qaeda and the Taliban.
Germany's UN Ambassador Peter Wittig, who is also the chairman of the Security Council's Al-Qaeda and Taliban Sanctions Committee, said the move would help reconciliation efforts in Afghanistan.
"There are [now] clearer criteria for listings and de-listings in the Taliban regime. There is a role for the Afghan government in the listing and de-listing process. The Afghan government will have to be consulted, so it gives them additional ownership in the whole process," Wittig said.
Russia's UN Ambassador Vitaly Churkin cautioned that Taliban de-listings have to be done only on a case-by-case basis and after careful consideration.
Afghanistan's UN Ambassador Zahir Tanin told Reuters in a telephone interview earlier this week that the move "gives us more flexibility. It will help to create a regime of engagement for people to join the peace process."
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