Afghan supporters rally for renewal of UN mission

UNITED NATIONS. March 20. KAZINFORM The UN Security Council on Tuesday unanimously renewed for another year the mandate of the UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) while dozens of nations voiced support for Kabul taking responsibility in 2014 for most of its own security, governance and development.

Most of the NATO-led International Security Assistance Force ( ISAF) troops were expected to withdraw from Afghanistan by the end of next year.

Nonetheless, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon pledged that the UN must continue its strong support to the Afghan government, now led by President Hamid Karzai, even after it resumes its own responsibility.

"Let us work as hard as possible to ensure that this transition leads to the stable, prosperous and safe future that the country's people deserve," he said. "We should continue providing good offices, including support for elections. We should maintain our work for reconciliation and regional cooperation. We must stand firm for human rights. And we must advance development."

According to Xinhua, Humanitarian action was also necessary in the world organization's future role, considering Afghanistan's "chronic vulnerability" and the impact of transition as ISAF and others withdraw most of the troops, he told the council.

The secretary-general said that since Afghanistan politics would be dominated by the 2014 elections, broad participation was essential in a credible process, leading to a widely accepted leadership transition. He also expressed concern over a UN report last month of about 20 percent increase in civilian casualties among women and girls last year.

He noted two statements from the Taliban perhaps indicating a willingness to engage and encouraged a meaningful dialogue to reduce an intolerable, continuing death toll.

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