06 May 2003
U.N. Envoy Warns Security Problems Threatening Afghan Peace Process
(Brahimi reports to Security Council May 6) (650)
By Judy Aita
Washington File United Nations Correspondent
United Nations -- Security problems are "casting a long shadow" over
the peace process in Afghanistan, threatening the rebuilding of the
country, the head of the U.N. operation in Kabul told the Security
Council May 6.
U.N. Special Representative Lakhdar Brahimi told the council that
Afghanistan "is challenged by the deterioration of the security
environment which stems from daily harassment and intimidation,
inter-ethnic and inter-factional strife, increases in the activity of
elements linked to the Taliban and Afghan warlord Gulbuddin Hekmatyar,
and the drugs economy. The process is also challenged by the fact that
national security institutions are perceived by many Afghans, perhaps
the majority, as not serving the broad national interests of all the
people of Afghanistan."
Brahimi reported that forces believed to be associated with the
Taliban, al-Qaeda, and Hekmatyar have been stepping up operations
against coalition forces as well as Afghan targets in the south,
southeast, and east of the country.
"The benefits of peace are still largely centered on Kabul and a peace
dividend still eludes the vast majority of Afghans," he said.
Brahimi gave his assessment at a public meeting of the Security
Council. He discussed the situation in Afghanistan and the status of
the so-called Bonn process under which Afghans and the international
community are working for national reconciliation, building security
structures and reconstruction of the country.
Hesitation, doubt, frustration and setbacks are to be expected in such
an enormous undertaking, he said, "but we must now be careful not to
let the current threats to the peace process and the growth in the
number of Afghans who are becoming disaffected with the state of their
nation" undermine the considerable progress that has been made thus
far.
The special envoy said that security issues arise in all major
activities from the drafting of the new constitution to reconstruction
and human rights.
"The security situation has been a constant theme in my briefings to
the council and unfortunately I must inform you that throughout much
of Afghanistan it remains unstable and insufficient. Rivalries between
factions and local commanders, impunity for human rights violations,
and the daily harassment of ordinary Afghan citizens by both
commanders and local security forces are all too common," he said.
"There is a real but still avoidable risk that the Bonn Process will
stall if security is not extended to the regions and that Afghans will
lose confidence in the central government if it cannot protect them.
Further progress cannot be achieved in a security vacuum and, if it is
not, dissatisfaction will grow," Brahimi said.
As he has done at all his previous Security Council briefings, Brahimi
said that the international security force in Afghanistan should be
expanded beyond the capital to the provinces.
"Reconstruction and recovery are also being hampered by insecurity in
the south and elsewhere and this will contribute, in a vicious cycle,
to further disaffection, increased crime, and in turn, further
insecurity," he said.
The Karzai Government, the Security Council, Afghanistan's neighbors,
and the international community as a whole must "fully contribute our
respective shares (to the peace process) at this critical time," he
said.
Members of demining operations have been targets and one deminer was
killed in an attack. In addition, a growing number of attacks have
been directed against foreign aid organizations and the United
Nations, he noted. And as the attacks have become more threatening,
the United Nations and other aid organization are reviewing their
operations and security procedures.
The United Nations will continue operations in all areas where
possible, "but we, of course, cannot guarantee that U.N. and other
civilian aid organizations will maintain current operation levels if
the security of our personnel cannot be assured," Brahimi said.
(The Washington File is a product of the Office of International
Information Programs, U.S. Department of State. Web site:
http://usinfo.state.gov)
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