30 October 2002

Security Still a Problem in Afghanistan, Envoy Says, October 30, 2002

(Brahimi reports on security, human rights, aid problems)

By Judy Aita
Washington File United Nations Correspondent

United Nations -- The U.N. special envoy to Afghanistan, Lakhdar Brahimi, told the Security Council October 30, that "the people of Afghanistan need and ask for international support to provide security" while the national police and army are being trained.

Reporting to the Security Council, Brahimi stressed that sporadic fighting among factions in the north, southeast, and western parts of Afghanistan continues to be a problem and security is the major concern for the people. But when asked if he is optimistic for Afghanistan's future, Brahimi said his answer was "a confident but somewhat qualified yes."

"Considering where it was a year ago, Afghanistan has made remarkable progress," Brahimi said, but the country needs continued commitment from its leaders to work together for genuine reconciliation and to accept the idea that Afghanistan belongs to all of its citizens.

The country also needs "continued international attention and sustained support," he said.

On the security situation, Brahimi said that the Afghan government does not yet have the means to deal effectively with the underlying problems and can only address the symptoms "like a fire brigade" putting out local fires rather than preventing them.

Brahimi, as well as Afghan President Hamid Karzai, have repeatedly asked the United Nations to expand the security forces that are concentrated in Kabul and the area surrounding the city. The Security Council has so far failed to authorize an expansion of the force.

Key to putting an end to the fighting are the national police and army, he said. Work is proceeding well with the national police, but forming the army is "slower and more complicated."

The defense commission has met but has failed to produce a credible plan for the formation of an army, Brahimi said.

The U.N. is recommending: reform of the defense ministry, a firm commitment of all faction and regional leaders to integrate their armies into the national army, a comprehensive demobilization and reintegration program for those fighters who will not go into the army but return to civilian life, and a comprehensive military training program led by the U.S. with the help of France.

Brahimi said that a "significant increase" in opium production this year is anticipated.

"Expectations are that it will take the best part of a decade before opium production is eradicated as strengthened legal and security measures and the creation of alternative livelihoods become effective realities," he said.

Human rights is another "worrisome" area, especially harassment of the Pashtuns and the treatment of women, the U.N. envoy said.

Underlying causes of the human rights problems include "the lack of security and the weakness of the central government, warlordism, persistent factional conflicts in some parts of the country, and a very basic and dysfunctional justice system," he said.

With women, local authorities are apparently not intervening in serious cases of domestic violence; forced marriages are still frequent; and exchanges of girls are used to settle disputes between families and factions, Brahimi said.

Investigation of the mass gravesite at Dasht-e-Leily will not be possible until spring because of the severity of the winters, but some preparatory work could and should be done to protect the site before winter sets in, Brahimi said.

One priority for the U.N. is getting assistance in place for some 2.2 million people to help them through the winter, he also said.

"The U.N. has begun stockpiling and propositioning food and shelter items and plans are being finalized to ensure that access to isolated communities is maintained," Brahimi said, appealing to donors for shelter, fuel, blankets and other humanitarian items still needed by the U.N.