UN envoy hails Karzai's efforts on rights front

United Nations, Dec 29: The top UN envoy for Afghanistan has pledged the world organisation's support in entrenching human rights in the strife-torn South Asian nation.

Welcoming President Hamid Karzai's recent decree confirming the appointment of three new commissioners to the Afghanistan Independent Human Rights Commission (AIHRC) Secretary-General Kofi Annan's Special Representative Tom Koenigs stressed the crucial role played by the rights body.

''Since its establishment in June 2002, the AIHRC has played a vital role in protecting and promoting the human rights of all of Afghanistan's people,'' he said in a statement.

''I welcome President Karzai's recent confirmation of three new appointments to the commission and hope that the new commissioners will continue their work with the same commitment and effort that the AIHRC has demonstrated since it was established,'' the statement copies of which were made available yesterday at UN headquarters in New York said.

The UN envoy added, ''The United Nations remains committed to supporting the work of the AIHRC and we will continue to work with the commission as it strives to build recognition and respect for fundamental human rights across Afghanistan.''

UNI