December 10, 2003	Wednesday	Shawwal 15, 1424

UNITED NATIONS, Dec 9: UN Secretary General, Kofi Annan, on Tuesday asked the international community to increase its involvement in Afghanistan or risk failure, given the war-stricken country’s deteriorating security situation and the intensifying attacks on United Nations staff and aid workers.

In a report, which covers events from July 2002 to November this year, Mr Annan said that the mandate set by the Bonn Agreement can only be achieved if security improves and the programmes and staff of the UN and non-government agencies (NGOs) receive better protection.

Mr Annan said in the report the worsening security, especially in the south and southeast of the country, is Afghanistan’s biggest problem. “Unchecked criminality, outbreaks of factional fighting and activities surrounding the illegal narcotics trade have all had a negative impact on the Bonn process,” he says.

The report adds that critical political processes have been delayed or are at risk because of security problems.

“It has been more than 12 months since the establishment of the Transitional Administration. In this time, the initial euphoria of peace has been replaced by the complex legacies of two and a half decades of armed conflict,” it states.

Mr Annan stressed that it is imperitive that the constitutional Loya Jirga and next year’s national elections take place in a secure environment.