DUSHANBE, July 7, 2011, Asia-Plus  -- Russia is seriously concerned over the situation in northern Afghanistan, where a number of large terrorist acts took place recently.  From northern Afghanistan terrorist activity spreads to Central Asia.  

According to the UN News Center, Alexander Pankin, Russia''s Deputy Permanent Representative to the United Nations, remarked this yesterday at the UN Security Council debate on the situation in Afghanistan.

According to Russian diplomat, it is obvious that as before, the Taliban want to destabilize the situation in the country and undermine international efforts on post-conflict reconstruction of Afghanistan.

Pankin considers it important to provide control of the United Nations over fulfillment of the UN Security Council mandate by the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF).  The ISAF conducts operations in Afghanistan under United Nations sanctions, and therefore it may be withdrawn from Afghanistan only under UN decision, Russian diplomat noted.  According to him, ISAF is not able to leave Afghanistan until it suppresses terrorist activities and helps create efficient army and police.

The United Nations Security Council held a debate on the Situation in Afghanistan on July 6.  According to the Permanent Mission of Afghanistan to the United Nations, the debate began with a briefing by Special Representative of the Secretary-General, Mr. Staffan de Mistura, head of the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan.  Dr. Zahir Tanin, Permanent Representative of Afghanistan to the UN, was given the floor after the SRSG’s remarks.

Both the SRSG and Ambassador Tanin focused on the “critical juncture,” as Ambassador Tanin put it, of transition to Afghan ownership and leadership of the country’s security.  In this transition, according to Ambassador Tanin, continued international support and engagement beyond 2014 is crucial for the future stability of the country, in particular, a “lasting partnership with the UN.”  The SRSG pointed out the need to focus beyond security for the transition period and address “social, economic and, frankly, human rights.”

The SRSG highlighted the effectiveness of the Afghan military and police in responding to these attacks, praising their strengthened capacity and improved abilities.

Both Ambassador Tanin and the SRSG emphasized the importance of ongoing reconciliation and reintegration efforts aimed at achieving a political solution to the conflict.  In these efforts, the SRSG explained, UNAMA is functioning as a confidence-builder, as substantive discussion on these matters is the purview of the Afghan government. In this regard, he praised the Security Council’s ongoing de-listing of ex-Taliban militants from sanctions lists as a move in the right direction.

In addition, the SRSG praised progress on bilateral, multilateral and regional cooperation, as well as improvements in the human rights, including women’s rights and the protection of children – though both the SRSG and Ambassador Tanin noted that civilian casualties from Taliban action continue to increase.

The other delegates of the Security Council, along with representatives from the EU, Japan, Pakistan, Canada and Turkey, expressed concern over recent escalations in the level of civilian casualties, and unanimously condemned violence against UN personnel. Nevertheless, they also reaffirmed their faith in the Afghan parliamentary process and pledged continued support of an Afghan-led reconciliation effort.