August 3, 2003	Sunday	Jumadi-us-Sani 4, 1424

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ISLAMABAD, Aug 2: The overall security situation throughout Afghanistan remains “fragile and in many areas exhibits signs of deterioration” and factional conflicts and tensions particularly in the north have “taken a dramatic turn for the worse”.

This is pointed out in the latest quarterly comprehensive report of the UN secretary-general to the Security Council on the situation in Afghanistan. It underscores “heightened (cross-border) tensions” between Pakistan and Afghanistan and emphasizes that “there can be no solution to such difficulties other than increasing efforts by both sides to strengthen their friendship and mutual ties”.

The report, dated July 23, states that “strengthening Afghanistan’s relations with Pakistan and indeed with all its neighbours, will have a positive impact not only on regional security, but also on regional economic integration”. In this regard, the report added, the signatory states of the Kabul Declaration on Good Neighbourly Relations should be recognized and further diplomatic relations and economic initiatives encouraged.

The report refers to the persistent defiance by some key governors and local leaders to the Transitional Administration headed by Mr Hamid Karzai and observed: “Without security, the accomplishments of the government of Afghanistan and the significant investment of the international community are at risk”.

It adds: “In the coming months the country is entering a critical phase on its path towards national reconciliation and political normalization. The legitimacy of the Constitutional Loya Jirga and the (proposed) national election will depend on their being held in an environment free from political pressures and intimidation. The conducting of a national election is particularly sensitive to insecurity and susceptible to interference by those who seek either to manipulate the outcome or to derail the (Bonn agreement) process altogether”, the report says.

The report also deplored the human rights situation in Afghanistan which, according to it “remains a matter of serious concern”.

“The absence of the rule of law facilitates the abuse of power most often by local commanders and factional forces and creates an environment where illegal taxation and extortion, forced displacement, kidnapping, rape, arbitrary detention and other violations are routine”, the report stresses.

“The situation of the women remained unsatisfactory. Without adequately resourced and professionally trained judicial and law enforcement institutions, victims had no legal recourse and perpetrators acted with impunity.”

The report also draws attention to the priorities facing the transitional administration, saying that among the priorities the disarmament, demobilization and reintegration of armed groups is consistently identified by the Afghans as “the single precondition for the establishment of durable peace”.

Successful disarmament in turn was dependent upon the reform of the ministry of defence, the authority responsible for the implementation of the programme, the report stated. It further stated: “The ministry of defence’s credibility as an institution dedicated to protecting the security interest of the population as a whole irrespective of regional and ethnic background and political affiliation, is prerequisite to securing broad acceptance of and cooperation with the disarmament, demobilization and reintegration programme.”