International community help Afghanistan consolidate peace-UN

United Nations, Mar 20 (UNI) In spite of progress, Afghanistan is still countering insurgency, popular alienation and human rights issues which put the war-torn country and its partners at "a critical juncture," says a new UN report.

"It is time for the international community to reconfirm its commitment to Afghanistan and to move expeditiously to consolidate the accomplishments of the last six years," Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon wrote in his report to the Security Council covering the past six months, proposing a 12-month extension of UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan(UNAMA).

"UNAMA, together with its Afghan and international counterparts, is well positioned to assist in meeting some of the challenges," he added, calling for the mission to focus in the coming months on promoting a more coherent international engagement in support of development, human rights and regional cooperation.

Mr Ban notes that insurgency-related incidents in January this year were more than double those in January 2006, and that a record 77 suicide attacks occurred during the reporting period, up from 53 over the previous six months.

An agreement between Pakistan and the local Taliban of North Waziristan in September did not prevent the use of the tribal area as a staging ground for attacks on Afghanistan, which had been one of the accord's central stipulations. Security incidents involving insurgents instead rose by 50 per cent in Khost province and 70 per cent in Paktika.

"Coordinated efforts by the Governments of Afghanistan and Pakistan to curb incursions into Afghanistan of opposition forces will therefore continue to be vital," Mr Ban said.

Popular alienation remains a key factor behind the revitalized insurgency, and stems from inappropriate Government appointments, tribal nepotism and the marginalization of those outside the dominant social and political groups.

"The central government's frequent tolerance of weak governance has diminished public confidence in its responsiveness and its readiness to hold officials accountable for their transgressions," he writes.

"In those cases where the centre has appointed capable governors, such as in Party, Cruzan and Kabul, it has failed to provide them with the resources necessary to maintain the goodwill that they have generated." MORE UNI XC SP RK1728