UN concerned over increased violence in Afghanistan

from The Times of India

UNITED NATIONS: Deeply concerned by the "increasingly strong nexus" between Taliban-led violence in Afghanistan and criminal activity spawned by the reconstituted opium trade, the United Nations General Assembly has called on Kabul and the international community to continue their commitment to root out terrorism and rebuild the country.

In a Germany-sponsored resolution adopted without vote, the 192-member Assembly strongly condemned the renewed violence throughout Afghanistan, including the rising trend of suicide attacks, in particular in the south and east, "owing to the increased violent and terrorist activity by the Taliban, Al-Qaida, other extremist groups and those involved in the narcotics trade".

However, it also noted, among other things, political advances and improvement in building Afghanistan's security sector.

At the same time, the world body warned that increased poppy cultivation and drug trafficking, coupled with the growing connection between the drug trade and extremist groups, "have dangerous repercussions in the region and far beyond", and are undermining stability, security and reconstruction efforts.

It also condemned attacks against both Afghan civilians, foreign nationals and those "committed to supporting the consolidation of peace, stability and development", in particular United Nations and diplomatic staff, national and international relief workers and security forces.

Addressing the Assembly, Afghanistan's representative Zahir Tanin highlighted his Government's struggle to overcome the legacy of three decades of conflict and stressed that his country would need the "long and sustained commitment of the international community for many years to come".

Despite remarkable achievements, "We have not lost sight of the numerous challenges," Tanin said, citing terrorism, illicit drugs, weak State institutions, poverty and socio-economic hardships as among the top national and regional threats.

"Terrorists are spreading fear and intimidation inside and outside Afghanistan," he said, adding they relied on brutal acts aimed at "undermining the security of our people and deterring the commitment of the international community to Afghanistan".

That was why they had ratcheted up abductions, suicide bombings and the use of sophisticated explosive devices "targeting and terrorising a wide spectrum of society; children in school, religious clerics, international aid workers, journalists and Afghan and international security forces".

On the drug trade, he said, apart from areas controlled by the Taliban, some 26,000 hectares of land had been cleared of poppy cultivation, which amounted to some 13 poppy-free provinces.

Afghanistan would combat the scourge at all levels, and believes it is essential to provide Afghan farmers with an alternative source of livelihoods, and in that regard, it counts on the international community's sustained support, Tanin added.

"For us, regional cooperation is not only the most effective strategy to address the challenges of terrorism and illicit drugs, but also underdevelopment, organised crime and natural disasters," he said, adding such cooperation would also help to translate the wider region's rich resources and potential into development and prosperity.

Indeed, the opportunities for regional cooperation in areas such as trade, energy, transportation, water management and joint investment projects must be seized.