Afghan reconstruction

Kabul, May 1 (UNI) The Joint Coordination Monitoring Body (JCMB) today expressed satisfaction that the Afghanistan Compact, charting out a programme of reconstruction and development for the war-ravaged country with international support, was on track.

Professor Ishaq Nadiri, the co-chair of the Commission and Economic Adviser to the Afghan President said there was progress in key sectors but expressed concern over the ''unexpected challenges to security in the south and south east of the country.'' The JCMB has endorsed raising the ceiling of Afghan national police temporarily to 82,000 to meet the challenges, especially in the South. The extra numbers are to come from the auxiliary police, who are drawn from the community and inducted into the force with a minimal amount of training.

The meeting also underscored the importance of beginning work on the electoral process, pointing out several major tasks including finalising an electoral law and a voters list needed to be completed before the 2009 elections.

The JCMB also stated that the staggering the elections of the President, the Parliament an provincial councils would be unworkable and urged the government and Parliament to harmonise the schedule.

The Commission welcomed the Ankara Declaration of Afghanistan and Pakistan stressing on the need for strengthening regional cooperation.

Recommendation for strengthening the process of disarmament of illegally armed groups will be presented in the next meeting of the Commission.

UNI