Indonesia needs to clarify its stance on Afghanistan

Who does the Organization of the Islamic Conference recognize?

No one. Afghanistan’s seat at the Conference has been empty since 1996.

Which outside power is currently accused of causing grief to the Afghanistan people?

The Ambassador of the Islamic State of Afghanistan reported to the UN that Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence agency, in alliance with the Taliban and Usama Bin Laden, had recruited extremists "from all corners of the world" to bases in Afghanistan. He said the Afghan people had been persecuted by terrorists from "South-East Asia, South Asia and the Middle East". Pakistan has since withdrawn its diplomats from Afghanistan, supported US military action against the Taliban and sacked the head of its Inter-Services Intelligence.

Have accusations against Taliban and Bin Laden been made too hastily? Shouldn’t the UN deal with this matter?

Commenting on the US military action in Afghanistan, UN secretary general Kofi Annan referred to the "inherent right of individual or collective self-defence" in accordance with the Charter of the United Nations. "The States concerned have set their current military action in Afghanistan in that context," he said.

This is the result of a series of binding resolutions of the UN Security Council. As a member of the UN, Indonesia has Charter obligations to "accept and carry out" the decisions of the Security Council. Indonesia represented Asia on the Security Council in 1995-1996.

Importantly, the first resolution, 1076 (1996) denounced the "discrimination against girls and women and other violations of human rights and international humanitarian law in Afghanistan."

Resolution 1189 (1998) called on all states to cooperate to apprehend those who bombed the US embassies in Kenya and Tanzania and to "bring them swiftly to justice". No 1214 (1998) demanded the Taliban "stop providing sanctuary and training for international terrorists and their organizations."

Following bin Laden’s indictment for the African bombings, No 1267 (1999) demanded the Taliban "turn over Usama bin Laden without further delay." It ruled that all countries must freeze Taliban funds.

Resolution 1333 (2000) ruled all countries must stop the supply of arms to the Taliban and military training of Taliban forces and must freeze funds and assets of Usama bin Laden and the Al-Qaida organization. It demanded that the Taliban halt all illegal drugs activities "the proceeds of which finance Taliban terrorist activities".

Resolution 1368 (2001) called on all countries to "bring to justice the perpetrators, organizers and sponsors" of the terrorist attacks on New York and Washington and stressed that "those responsible for aiding, supporting or harbouring the perpetrators, organizers and sponsors of these acts will be held accountable."

Finally, resolution 1373 (2001) reaffirming that acts of international terrorism "constitute a threat to international peace and security" and "the inherent right of individual or collective self-defence" binds all countries to criminalize the funding of terrorists, to suppress all "recruitment of members of terrorist groups" and to eliminate "the supply of weapons to terrorists".

There is an urgent need for Indonesia to clearly articulate and explain its diplomatic position and international legal obligations.