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Conflict in Afghanistan risks spinning out of control, Kofi Annan warns.

UN News Service 29 November 1999

Secretary-General Kofi Annan has warned that the on-going conflict in Afghanistan risks spinning out of control unless the international community awakens to its effect on the peace and security in the region and starts paying full attention to the root cause - the civil war and foreign interference in the country.

In his latest report to the Security Council on the situation in Afghanistan and its implications for international peace and security, released today, the Secretary-General paints a grim picture of the conflict that, he says, "is increasingly having a negative impact beyond the borders of that country."

On the political front, the report cites "the lack of progress" in efforts to achieve a peaceful solution. At the same time, the people of Afghanistan have continued to suffer from a "massive" loss of their human rights throughout the year, the Secretary-General says. The devastating impact of the war on all aspects of Afghan society is compounded by a combination of poverty, profound underdevelopment, the absence of accountable governance mechanism and a pattern of systematic violation of humanitarian law.

After a careful review of recent developments, the Secretary-General says that he and his Special Envoy, Lakhdar Brahimi, have reached a conclusion that Mr. Brahimi's activities should be "frozen" until circumstances change to justify his renewed intervention.

At the same time, the primary role in conducting UN peacemaking activities in the country will be assumed by the UN Special Mission to Afghanistan (UNSMA), the Secretary-General says.

UNSMA, which is currently based in Islamabad, will progressively move its head office to Afghanistan's capital, Kabul, where the closer proximity will afford the Mission more frequent contacts with both the belligerents and non-belligerents. The Secretary-General also intends to open a sub-office in Teheran in early 2000 to increase regular contact with neighbouring States as well as Afghan factions and individuals.

In his analysis of the situation, the Secretary-General notes that the Afghan factions and the relevant regional powers have yet to demonstrate sufficient political will to find a common approach to the Afghan question.

Referring to the work of the "Six plus Two" group, Mr. Annan says its members could do a great deal more to end military support for the Afghan factions. The limited impact of the group, which is composed of Afghanistan's six neighbouring countries, Russia and the United States, "has led some to express doubts about the usefulness of its very existence," the Secretary-General writes. He notes, however, that he will continue to work with its members and seek ways of improving its creativity and effectiveness.

"The continuing conflict in Afghanistan has reached a point where its regional and international implications can no longer be neglected," Mr. Annan warns, appealing to the international community, Afghan factions and involved neighbouring countries to redouble their efforts to end the conflict before it becomes uncontrollable.