UN extends NATO-led Afghan force
Sep. 12, 2006. 09:02 PM
ASSOCIATED PRESS
UNITED NATIONS — The UN Security Council voted unanimously Tuesday to extend the authorization of the NATO-led force in Afghanistan, expressing concern at the upsurge in violence and terrorist activity by the Taliban, Al Qaeda, illegally armed groups and drug-traffickers.
Some 20,000 NATO soldiers in the International Security Assistance Force — including about 2,200 Canadians — and a similar number of U.S. forces in Afghanistan are facing an emboldened insurgency led by the country's former Taliban rulers that has demonstrated the fragility of Afghanistan's western-backed government.
The violence, centred in the Taliban heartland in southern Afghanistan, is the deadliest since a U.S.-led invasion toppled the Taliban after Sept 11, 2001 for harbouring Al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden, the key figure in the terrorist attacks against the United States.
The Security Council resolution extends the authorization for the NATO-led force known as ISAF for 12 months after the current authorization expires Oct. 13. The council acted a month early so Germany and other countries can seek approval from their legislatures for the continued deployment of their troops, council diplomats said.
Afghan UN Ambassador Ravan Farhadi welcomed the council's authorization saying ISAF is important to the country's security.
"But what Afghanistan is expecting is the broadening of the role of ISAF — that's really the next step," he said.
Some 8,000 NATO troops, mainly from Britain, Canada and the Netherlands, relieved U.S.-led soldiers in southern Afghanistan on July 31. Fighting since has left at least 35 NATO troops and more than 500 militants dead.
Russian deputy UN ambassador Konstantin Dolgov called ISAF "a very important security presence ... especially now when the situation in the security field is very precarious."
"They are playing a very important stabilizing role in Afghanistan under the mandate from the Security Council," he said.
Dolgov said ISAF is already broadening its area of operation and by the end of the year its troops have to be deployed in eastern Afghanistan.
In addition to tackling the "very serious threat coming from the remnants of the Taliban and Al Qaeda," he called for progress on political reforms and reconstruction, which the UN is helping to co-ordinate.
The resolution adopted by the council recognizes the responsibility for providing security in Afghanistan rests with Afghans themselves. It expressed support for the contributions of ISAF and the U.S. forces to Afghanistan's security and in building the country's security forces.
The Security Council expressed "concern about the security situation in Afghanistan, in particular the increased violent and terrorist activity by the Taliban, al-Qaida, illegally armed groups and those involved in the narcotics trade, which has resulted in increased Afghan civilian casualties."
Council members reiterated their call on all Afghan parties and groups to work constructively "in the peaceful political development of the country and to avoid resorting to violence including through the use of illegal armed groups."
One would think that they'd be first in line to support the mission, given the UN's desire for security in Afghanistan and for support to the Afghan government. Guess not... :-\
