United Nations Security Council Resolution 1943

by the United Nations

Adopted by the Security Council at its 6395th meeting, on 13 October 2010

The Security Council,

Reaffirming its previous resolutions on Afghanistan, in particular its resolutions 1386 (2001), 1510 (2003), 1833 (2008), 1890 (2009) and 1917 (2010),

Reaffirming also its resolutions 1267 (1999), 1368 (2001), 1373 (2001), 1822 (2008) and 1904 (2009), and reiterating its support for international efforts to root out terrorism in accordance with the Charter of the United Nations,

Recalling its resolutions 1265 (1999), 1296 (2000), 1674 (2006), 1738 (2006) and 1894 (2009) on the protection of civilians in armed conflict, its resolutions 1325 (2000), 1820 (2008), 1888 (2009) and 1889 (2009) on women and peace and security, and its resolutions 1612 (2005) and 1882 (2009) on children and armed conflict,

Reaffirming its strong commitment to the sovereignty, independence, territorial integrity and national unity of Afghanistan,

Recognizing that the responsibility for providing security and law and order throughout the country resides with the Afghan Authorities, stressing the role of the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) in assisting the Afghan Government to improve the security situation and build its own security capabilities, and welcoming the cooperation of the Afghan Government with ISAF,

Welcoming the communiqués of the London Conference (S/2010/65) and the Kabul Conference which set a clear agenda and agreed priorities for the way ahead on Afghanistan,

Recognizing once again the interconnected nature of the challenges in Afghanistan, reaffirming that sustainable progress on security, governance, human rights, rule of law and development as well as the cross-cutting issues of counter-narcotics, anti-corruption and accountability are mutually reinforcing and welcoming the continuing efforts of the Afghan Government and the international community to address these challenges through a comprehensive approach,

Stressing in this context the need for further efforts by the Afghan Government to fight corruption, promote transparency and increase its accountability, in line with the Afghan Government's commitment to strengthen measures to combat corruption after the London and Kabul Conferences,

Recognizing the commitment by the international community to support the phased transition to full Afghan responsibility for security including through the establishment of the Joint Afghan NATO Inteqal “Transition”; Board to determine mutually agreed criteria to commence the Transition process, and the imperative for the international community to continue to train, mentor and partner with the Afghan National Security Forces in order to support the international and Afghan objective for Afghan National Security Forces leadership on military and civilian police operations by the end of 2014, noting that these issues will be discussed at the forthcoming NATO Summit in Lisbon, and stressing the long-term commitment of the international community to support the further development and professionalization of the ANSF,

Stressing the central and impartial role that the United Nations continues to play in promoting peace and stability in Afghanistan by leading the efforts of the international community, noting, in this context, the synergies in the objectives of the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) and of ISAF, and stressing the need for strengthened cooperation, coordination and mutual support, taking due account of their respective designated responsibilities,

Expressing its strong concern about the security situation in Afghanistan, in particular the increased violent and terrorist activities by the Taliban, Al-Qaida, other illegal armed groups and criminals, including those involved in the narcotics trade, and the increasingly strong links between terrorism activities and illicit drugs, resulting in threats to the local population, including children, as well as to the national security forces and international military and civilian personnel,

Welcoming the efforts of the Government of Afghanistan to update and improve the National Drug Control Strategy, with a particular emphasis on a partnership approach to ensure joint, effective implementation and coordination, encouraging ISAF to further, effectively support, within its designated responsibilities, Afghan-led sustained efforts to address drug production and trafficking, in cooperation with relevant international and regional actors, recognizing the threat posed by illicit drug production, trade, trafficking to international peace and stability in different regions of the world, and the important role played by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) in this regard,

Expressing also its concern over the harmful consequences of violent and terrorist activities by the Taliban, Al-Qaida and other extremist groups on the capacity of the Afghan Government to guarantee the rule of law, to provide security and basic services to the Afghan people, and to ensure the full enjoyment of their human rights and fundamental freedoms,

Reiterating its support for the continuing endeavours by the Afghan Government, with the assistance of the international community, including ISAF and the Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF) coalition, to improve the security situation and to continue to address the threat posed by the Taliban, Al-Qaida and other extremist groups, and stressing in this context the need for sustained international efforts, including those of ISAF and the OEF coalition,

Condemning in the strongest terms all attacks, including improvised explosive device (IED) attacks, suicide attacks, assassinations and abductions, targeting civilians and Afghan and international forces and their deleterious effect on the stabilization, reconstruction and development efforts in Afghanistan, and condemning further the use by the Taliban, Al-Qaida and other extremist groups of civilians as human shields,

Welcoming the Afghan Government's achievements in banning ammonium nitrate fertilizer, and urging continued action to implement regulations for the control of all explosive materials and precursor chemicals, thereby reducing the ability of insurgents to use them for improvised explosive devices,

Recognizing the increased threats posed by the Taliban, Al-Qaida and other extremist groups as well as the challenges related to the efforts to address such threats,

Expressing its serious concern with the increased high number of civilian casualties in Afghanistan, in particular women and children casualties, the large majority of which are caused by Taliban, Al-Qaida and other extremist groups, reaffirming that all parties to armed conflict must take all feasible steps to ensure the protection of affected civilians, calling for all parties to comply with their obligations under international humanitarian and human rights law and for all appropriate measures to be taken to ensure the protection of civilians, and recognizing the importance of the ongoing monitoring and reporting to the United Nations Security Council, including by ISAF, of the situation of civilians and in particular civilian casualties,

Taking note of the progress made by ISAF and other international forces in minimizing the civilian casualties, as described in the August 2010 UNAMA report on the protection of civilians in armed conflict, urging ISAF and other international forces to continue to undertake enhanced efforts to prevent civilian casualties including the increased focus on protecting the Afghan population as a central element of the mission, and noting the importance of conducting continuous reviews of tactics and procedures and after-action reviews and investigations in cooperation with the Afghan Government in cases where civilian casualties have occurred and when the Afghan Government finds these joint investigations appropriate,

Expressing its strong concern about recruitment and use of children by Taliban forces in Afghanistan as well the killing and maiming of children as a result of the conflict, welcoming the establishment of the Afghan Inter-Ministerial Steering Committee on Children and the Afghan Government's intention to develop an action plan on the prevention of recruitment of children under 18 years of age, and the appointment of the focal point by the Ministry of the Interior dealing with child protection issues,

Acknowledging the progress made in security sector reform, welcoming the support and assistance extended to the Afghan National Police by the international partners in this regard, in particular the continued commitment of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) Training Mission in Afghanistan, the European Gendarmerie Force (EGF) contribution to this mission and assistance extended to the Afghan National Police including through the European Union police mission (EUPOL Afghanistan), and stressing the need for Afghanistan together with international donors to further strengthen the Afghan National Army and the Afghan National Police to ensure Afghan capability to assume increasing responsibilities and leadership of security operations and maintain public order, law enforcement, the security of Afghanistan's borders and the preservation of the constitutional rights of the Afghan citizens as well as to increase its efforts in disbandment of illegal armed groups and counter-narcotics, as outlined in the London Conference and the Kabul Conference communiqués,

Stressing in this context the importance of further progress by the Afghan Government in ending impunity and strengthening judicial institutions, in the reconstruction and reform of the prison sector, and the rule of law and respect for human rights within Afghanistan, including for women and girls, and in particular women's rights under the Constitution to fully participate in the political, economic and social spheres of Afghan life,

Reiterating its call on all Afghan parties and groups to engage constructively in peaceful political dialogue as requested by participants at the Consultative Peace Jirga held in Kabul in June 2010 within the framework of the Afghan Constitution and to work together with international donors for the socio-economic development of the country and to avoid resorting to violence including through the use of illegal armed groups, supporting the aims of the High Peace Council, and encouraging the Afghan Government-led peace process, in particular the implementation of the Afghan Peace and Reintegration Program, within the framework of the Afghan Constitution and with full respect for the implementation of measures and application of the procedures introduced by the Security Council in its resolutions 1267 (1999), 1822 (2008) and 1904 (2009) as well as other relevant resolutions of the Council, and pledging to continue supporting this work as requested by the Afghan Government,

Noting the leading role played by the Afghan Independent Election Commission and the Electoral Complaints Commission in organizing the 2010 parliamentary elections, and the support of the United Nations and ISAF, and the Afghan Government's commitment in the Kabul Conference communiqué to address long-term electoral reform, based on lessons learned in previous elections,

Recognizing the importance of the contribution of neighbouring and regional partners as well as regional organizations including EU, OSCE, Shanghai Cooperation Organization and the CSTO to the stabilization of Afghanistan, stressing the crucial importance of advancing regional cooperation as an effective means to promote security, governance and development in Afghanistan, welcoming the regional efforts in this regard, and looking forward to the inaugural meeting in November 2010 in Istanbul of the Core Group established in support of enhanced regional cooperation in conjunction with the Kabul Conference,

Welcoming the efforts of the international community carried out to strengthen the coherence of military and civilian actions, including those within the framework of ISAF,

Welcoming the continued coordination between ISAF and the OEF coalition, and in-theatre cooperation established between ISAF and the European Union presence in Afghanistan,

Expressing its appreciation for the leadership provided by NATO and for the contributions of many nations to ISAF and to the OEF coalition, which operates within the framework of the counter-terrorism operations in Afghanistan and in accordance with the applicable rules of international law,

Determining that the situation in Afghanistan still constitutes a threat to international peace and security,

Determined to ensure the full implementation of the mandate of ISAF, in coordination with the Afghan Government,

Acting for these reasons under Chapter VII of the Charter of the United Nations,

1. Decides to extend the authorization of the International Security Assistance Force, as defined in resolution 1386 (2001) and 1510 (2003), for a period of twelve months until 13 October 2011;

2. Authorizes the Member States participating in ISAF to take all necessary measures to fulfil its mandate;

3. Recognizes the need to further strengthen ISAF to meet all its operational requirements, and in this regard calls upon Member States to contribute personnel, equipment and other resources to ISAF;

4. Stresses the importance of increasing, in a comprehensive framework, the functionality, professionalism and accountability of the Afghan security sector, encourages ISAF and other partners to sustain their efforts, as resources permit, to train, mentor and empower the Afghan national security forces, in order to accelerate progress towards the goal of self-sufficient, accountable and ethnically balanced Afghan security forces providing security and ensuring the rule of law throughout the country, welcomes the increasing leadership role played by the Afghan Authorities in security responsibilities throughout the country, and stresses the importance of supporting the planned expansion of the Afghan National Army and the Afghan National Police as endorsed by the Joint Coordination and Monitoring Board in January 2010;

5. Calls upon ISAF and the NATO Senior Civilian Representative to continue to work in close consultation with the Afghan Government and the Special Representative of the United Nations Secretary-General in accordance with Security Council resolution 1917 (2010) as well as with the OEF coalition in the implementation of the ISAF mandate;

6. Requests the leadership of ISAF to keep the Security Council regularly informed, through the United Nations Secretary-General, on the implementation of its mandate, including through the timely provision of quarterly reports;

7. Decides to remain actively seized of this matter.