Amid ongoing violence in Afghanistan, the United Nations (UN) Security Council on Friday backed the new agreement for NATO to train, advise and assist the Afghan security forces after its combat operations end on December 31.
A resolution adopted unanimously by the council welcomes the new mission named “Resolute Support,” and “underscores the importance of continued international support for the stabilisation of the situation in Afghanistan”.
With its resolution, the council took note of UN secretary general’s letter of November 28, transmitting the final report on the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) operations in Afghanistan, which are set to draw down by the end of 2014. The letter states that while the core objectives of ISAF have been achieved, “more remains to be done to develop self-sustainable and fully capable Afghan security forces”.
“The Afghan forces still have capability gaps and development shortfalls, especially in the Air Force,” the letter said. “Equipment procurement, financial management and accountability procedures need to improve. Endemic corruption persists. Further progress is required in the participation of women in security institutions and forces, in securing women’s rights and in the protection of children in armed conflict, especially in eliminating the recruitment of child soldiers.”
The mission” would be focused at the institutional level in Kabul, but also provide continued advice to the Afghan forces at the corps level in the regions”.
AFGHANISTAN WELCOMES SUPPORT:
“At this crucial juncture in our history, this resolution signifies the necessity of enduring and long term support for Afghanistan,” Afghanistan’s UN Ambassador Zahir Tanin said during the council’s meeting.
“The adoption of this resolution is a clear indication of the continuing support of the council and the international community for the efforts of the Afghan people and government to bring peace, stability, democracy and prosperity to the country throughout the transformation decade”.
The council also said it looked forward to the leadership of the mission working with the Afghan government and in close coordination and cooperation, where relevant, with the UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) and the Special Representative of the UN secretary general for Afghanistan.
The resolution comes the day after the council strongly condemned Thursday’s suicide attack at the French Institute of Afghanistan in Kabul, for which the Taliban claimed responsibility.
Reiterating the fact that no terrorist attack can reverse the path towards Afghan-led peace, democracy and stability in Afghanistan, the UNSC issued a statement reaffirming the need and reiterating its determination to combat threats to international peace and security caused by terrorist acts by all means, in accordance with the UN Charter and international law.
