UNITED NATIONS, Nov 24: The head of the UN Security Council's mission to Afghanistan has painted a grim picture of the situation in the country in the wake of the Taliban’s resurgence, illicit narcotics production and fragile state institutions. In his report the official warned that Afghanistan was heading towards becoming a failed state.

Japanese Ambassador Kenzo Oshima led the 10-member mission earlier this month. He held talks with Pakistani officials in Islamabad before visiting Afghanistan.

"Over the course of 2006… and this is a worrying development, the rise in the Taliban-led insurgency and other social ills, including the upsurge in illegal drug production and trafficking, against the backdrop of still too weak, fragile state and provincial institutions… and the accompanying endemic corruption and impunity," Mr Oshima told the Council.

"At the same time, it is abundantly clear that Afghanistan needs additional and sustained support and assistance from the international community, both for quick gains and for sustained progress over the long term," he said.

He warned that `without such support, there is no guarantee that Afghanistan… will not slide back into conflict and a failed state again’.