UNITED NATIONS, Dec 8: Pakistan on Friday urged the international community to expand the size and mandate of the International Security Force (ISAF) in Afghanistan so that the writ of Karzai government runs all over that country.

Addressing the United Nations General Assembly during its consideration of the situation in Afghanistan and its implications for international peace and security, Pakistan’s Ambassador to the United Nations, Munir Akram, further emphasized that Pakistan would like to see a greater integration of Afghanistan into the regional economic cooperation structure.

“In this regard, we are heartened by the gas pipeline project connecting Pakistan, Afghanistan and Turkmenistan,” he added.

Akram said that in order to build viable security structure in Afghanistan the international community should adopt alternative approaches to building security in Afghanistan.

“We are heartened by initiatives taken by the US forces in Afghanistan to provide greater security and confidence through direct interaction with the Afghans in various parts of the country,” he observed adding “we welcome also the intention of the Afghan government to disarm the different armed factions and militias in various parts of the country.”

Reaffirming Pakistan’s support for the Bonn Agreement, Akram said: “We reaffirm our resolve to work with the international community to promote peace, stability and economic development in Afghanistan.

“Pakistan is, and will remain a key member of the global coalition against international terrorism,” and noted “at the same front Pakistan has offered and will continue to provide full support to the efforts initiated by the secretary-general and his special representative, Ambassador Lakhdar Brahimi for peace and reconstruction in saying that Pakistan remains committed to the promotion of peace, reconstruction and rehabilitation in Afghanistan, Pakistan’s Chief delegate said

“At the Tokyo Conference, Pakistan pledged $100 millions towards Afghanistan’s reconstruction efforts. Of this $20 million have already been disbursed. Our assistance is being provided in areas identified by the Afghan government and is being channelled through the central authority in Kabul. Within its limited resources, Pakistan is committed to providing all possible assistance as required by the Afghan government in the onerous task of reconstruction and rehabilitation of Afghanistan’s socio-economic infrastructure.

“In addition, Pakistan would like to see a greater integration of Afghanistan into the regional economic cooperation structures.

“In this regard, we are heartened by the agreement reached to construct a gas pipeline from Turkmenistan to Pakistan through Afghanistan. Similarly, we also welcome the initiative taken by the UNDP to foster development cooperation between Pakistan, Afghanistan and Iran.

“We also strongly support the various trade liberalization initiatives being proposed by the Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO) to integrate Afghanistan’s economy with that of the countries which are its neighbours.

“We feel that regional economic cooperation can build solid and mutually beneficial bridges between Afghanistan and its immediate neighbours. Pakistan would be prepared

to explore conclusion of a Free Trade Agreement with Afghanistan.”

Underscoring that he said: “Peace and security and economic development and reconstruction are inextricably linked,” Akram, however, noted, “while reconstruction is difficult in the absence of peace and security, stability can be considerably bolstered through economic rehabilitation and reconstruction.

“We agree with the secretary-general’s report that the Afghan transitional government cannot accomplish this task alone and requires sustained assistance from the international community.”

Akram said: “The priority areas that need immediate attention are the reconstruction of destroyed infrastructure and the rehabilitation of agriculture. A vast majority of the Afghan population lives in rural areas and is dependent on agriculture. The reconstruction of roads and irrigation systems would provide jobs to hundreds of thousands of jobless Afghans besides facilitating trade. Health and education also need urgent attention.”

He pointed out that over the last two decades, Pakistan has hosted millions of Afghan refugees, largely without assistance from the international community, and said that despite the fact that more than a million Afghan refugees have returned to Afghanistan, “about two million still remain in Pakistan.”

He lamented: “The process of repatriation of refugees has slowed down because of the lack of adequate economic activity for the returnees. This is an area which requires greater international attention.”

He hoped that the international community would also target assistance to rural areas from where the refugees have originated so as to ensure that those who have returned home have a reason to stay there.

In this regard, Akram said: “We support the secretary general’s recommendations that sustained reintegration must be based on an integrated approach involving coordinated food security and cash-for-work strategies together with support for the key areas of water, health and education.”