This paper examines the ways in which the issue of Afghanistan has been discussed by the permanent members at the United Nations Security Council (UNSC), based on an analysis of statements and speeches by each permanent member’s representative during Security Council meetings between 2011 and 2013. The future of Afghanistan is highly dependent on the strategic and economic interests of the permanent members of UNSC. This paper will discuss and compare the views of each permanent member, specifically in relation to: the progress on, and prospects for, peace and reconciliation in Afghanistan; the handover of security responsibility to the ANSF; the current security situation in the country; future engagement of the UN and international cooperation in Afghanistan. The author concludes that the divergence of priorities and concerns, especially between Russia, and to a lesser degree China, and the other permanent members of the UNSC on vital issues in Afghanistan stands as one of the main challenges to an effective and unified UN policy towards Afghanistan in the post-2014 period.