Informing humanitarians worldwide 24/7 — a service provided by UN OCHA

Afghanistan

The situation in Afghanistan and its implications for international peace and security - Report of the Secretary-General (A/63/751-S/2009/135)

Attachments

General Assembly
Sixty-third session
Agenda item 17
The situation in Afghanistan

Security Council
Sixty-fourth year

I. Introduction

1. The present report is submitted pursuant to General Assembly resolution 63/18 and Security Council resolution 1806 (2008), by which the Council decided to extend the mandate of the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) until 23 March 2009. The report reviews the situation in Afghanistan and the activities of UNAMA since my report of 23 September 2008 (A/63/372- S/2008/617).

II. Overview

2. The Government, security forces and population of Afghanistan, along with its international partners, face a critical test in 2009. Security has continued to deteriorate. The results of Government and international aid efforts have fallen short of popular expectations as Afghans suffer the effects of drought and a global rise in food prices. The rule of law has remained insufficiently institutionalized, and respect for international humanitarian law, human rights and accounting for past abuses have continued to be treated as secondary matters. Transparency International, in its Global Corruption Report 2008, ranked Afghanistan among the worst countries in terms of governmental corruption.

3. At stake over the next six months is the relegitimization of the Government's authority through credible elections, as well as the continuation of the constitutional order that emerged from the Bonn process.

4. Elections for the presidency and provincial councils are planned for the summer of 2009. The election date, which for logistical, financial and security reasons was set by the Independent Electoral Commission for 20 August 2009, three months after the expiration of the presidential term on 22 May 2009, has generated constitutional uncertainty over the President's legitimacy after 22 May.

5. There is a general consensus that the insecurity caused by those who oppose the Government cannot be addressed by military means alone. Reconciliation needs to be part of an inclusive political process beyond elections. It should be Afghanled, enjoy a broad consensus of key Afghan and international stakeholders, respect the Constitution and be pursued from a position of military and political strength. The current constitutional debate renders progress on these preconditions and the development of a comprehensive strategy for reconciliation problematic.

6. Political and military efforts must be complemented by a more robust commitment to supporting Afghanistan's development strategy in a more coordinated way. The surge in attention and resources that Afghanistan has received in recent months is welcome. However, what we have learned over the past seven years is that this alone is not enough. Resources must be used intelligently, according to a coordinated and comprehensive plan whose goal is to enable all Afghans to bear responsibility for their future. The essence of this plan was agreed at the Paris Conference in June 2008 and is being articulated on the ground through specific efforts to improve aid effectiveness, build Afghan capacity and institutions, focus on the prioritized definition of the country's development needs, improve delivery of assistance to the provinces and promote regional cooperation.

7. My Special Representative, Kai Eide, and the staff of UNAMA have pressed on with the implementation of the Mission's mandate. On key issues, the international actors and the Afghan Government responded positively to these efforts. As a result, some long-standing problems are now being addressed. Examples include the agreement between the Afghan Ministry of Defence and the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) to address the adverse consequences of military operations on civilians, the strengthening of key ministries, streamlined coordination mechanisms, progress on counter-narcotics and some tangible benefits derived from improved regional economic cooperation. Still, the effectiveness of the Mission's role continues to depend on a willingness by others to be coordinated. The vast majority of international funds continue to be spent outside Afghan Government or United Nations channels. Similarly, the implementation of the Mission's civil-military coordination mandate depends on the willingness of the 41 nations contributing to ISAF to work with the United Nations.