29 May 2004	Saturday	09 Rabi-us-Saani 1425

UNITED NATIONS, May 28: Pakistan on Thursday called for an urgent expansion of International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) in Afghanistan "to establish a semblance of security throughout the country and the authority of the central government."

Pakistan's UN Ambassador Munir Akram told the Security Council at least 20,000 to 25,000 additional troops were needed for ISAF, noting that "the security situation will continue to worsen unless and until there is resolute action from the international community to comprehensively deal with these threats."

Speaking at an open meeting of UN Security Council which heard from UN Special Envoy in Afghanistan, Jean Arnault, Mr Akram said: "if Nato cannot provide the sufficient levels of troops for ISAF, peacekeepers from the members of the Organization of Islamic Countries (OIC) can be approached to make up the numbers."

Mr Arnault told the council that Afghanistan was still in critical need of international security assistance, and detailed the poor security situation in the country as well as the nation's electoral, disarmament, demobilization and reintegration processes.

Mr Akram, who heads the Security Council for May, observed: "This expansion should not be limited only to Provincial Reconstruction Teams (PRTs)-useful though they are- or to the duration of the elections. ISAF should have a more robust military presence in all of the major urban centres of Afghanistan and their environs."

"There are several sources of insecurity. Threats emanate from (I) extremists and terrorists; (ii) from warlords and factional forces, and (iii) from smugglers and criminals, including those involved in the drug trade," he said.

Mr Akram further said that in addition to ISAF expansion there was a need for: (I) the demilitarization of Kabul;(ii) the comprehensive disarmament of all the factional forces; (iii) meaningful security sector reforms and the creation of a truly representative Afghan national army, police, intelligence service, and ministries of defence and interior; and (iv) the extension of state authority throughout the country.