UNITED NATIONS, March 19: The UN Security Council extended on Tuesday the mandate of the United Nations mission in Afghanistan for another year, after Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and other speakers urged continued UN support to the government as it assumes full responsibility in most areas by 2014.

In a unanimously adopted resolution extending the UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan until March 19, 2014, the council called on the world body, with the support of the international community, to back the government’s so-called National Priority Programmes as it goes through the process of taking full control of security, governance and development, a press statement said.

The withdrawal of the bulk of US and North Atlantic Treaty Organisation troops from Afghanistan is set to be completed by the end of 2014, while a transition of responsibility for security in the country from the Nato-led International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) to Afghan forces is already under way.

In the resolution, the council said it “stresses the critical importance of a continued presence of UNAMA and other United Nations agencies, funds and programmes in the provinces, consistent with the transition process, in support of and in cooperation with the Afghan Government.”

Mr Ban said the UN must continue strong support to the Afghan government up to and beyond the 2014 deadline for the government’s assumption of responsibility.

“Let us work as hard as possible to ensure that this transition leads to the stable, prosperous and safe future that the country’s people deserve,” he told the 15-member body.