20 December 2001

UN Authorizes International Security Force for Afghanistan

The United Nations Security Council unanimously adopted Resolution 1386 on December 20 to establish the UN International Security Assistance Force in Afghanistan for a period of six months.

The mission of the UN force is to assist the Afghan Interim Authority maintain security in Kabul and its surrounding areas as Afghanistan re-establishes the institutions of government.

The resolution was adopted under Chapter 7 of the UN Charter, which lets UN-authorized troops use force to carry out their mission.

The Council formally accepted the offer of the United Kingdom to head the Security Assistance Force until April 30, 2002, but did not go further in outlining the composition of the force. Governments that have offered to send troops or equipment will meet in New York to work out their contributions.

Recalling provisions made in the December 5 Bonn Agreement, through which Afghan factions requested a UN assistance in establishing a secure environment in Afghanistan, the Council called on all Afghans to "do all within their means and influence" to ensure the safety, security and freedom of movement of all UN and other international personnel, including the withdrawal of all military units from Kabul.

Resolution 1386 called upon the Security Assistance Force to work in close consultation with Afghanistan's Interim Authority. Among the areas of cooperation will be the establishment and training of a new Afghan security force and armed forces.

UN member states are asked to contribute personnel, equipment and other resources to the force. Expenses for the force will be borne by participating governments, which will be asked to contribute to a trust fund, the Security Council said.

The full text of UN Resolution 1386 is carried below:

Resolution

The full text of resolution 1386 (2001), as orally revised, reads as follows:

"The Security Council,

"Reaffirming its previous resolutions on Afghanistan, in particular its resolutions 1378 (2001) of 14 November 2001 and 1383 (2001) of 6 December 2001,

"Supporting international efforts to root out terrorism, in keeping with the Charter of the United Nations, and reaffirming also its resolutions 1368 (2001) of 12 September 2001 and 1373 (2001) of 28 September 2001,

"Welcoming developments in Afghanistan that will allow for all Afghans to enjoy inalienable rights and freedom unfettered by oppression and terror,

"Recognizing that the responsibility for providing security and law and order throughout the country resides with the Afghan themselves,

"Reiterating its endorsement of the Agreement on provisional arrangements in Afghanistan pending the re-establishment of permanent government institutions, signed in Bonn on 5 December 2001 (S/2001/1154) (the Bonn Agreement),

"Taking note of the request to the Security Council in Annex 1, paragraph 3, to the Bonn Agreement to consider authorizing the early deployment to Afghanistan of an international security force, as well as the briefing on 14 December 2001 by the Special Representative of the Secretary-General on his contacts with the Afghan authorities in which they welcome the deployment to Afghanistan of a United Nations authorized international security force,

"Taking note of the letter dated 19 December 2001 from Dr. Abdullah Abdullah to the President of the Security Council (S/2001/1223),

"Welcoming the letter from the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland to the Secretary-General of 19 December 2001 (S/2001/1217), and taking note of the United Kingdom offer contained therein to take the lead in organizing and commanding an International Security Assistance Force,

"Stressing that all Afghan forces must adhere strictly to their obligations under human rights law, including respect for the rights of women, and under international humanitarian law,

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

"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 the International Security Assistance Force, in consultation with the Afghan Interim Authority established by the Bonn Agreement,

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

• Authorizes, as envisaged in Annex 1 to the Bonn Agreement, the establishment for 6 months of an International Security Assistance Force to assist the Afghan Interim Authority in the maintenance of security in Kabul and its surrounding areas, so that the Afghan Interim Authority as well as the personnel of the United Nations can operate in a secure environment;

• Calls upon Member States to contribute personnel, equipment and other resources to the International Security Assistance Force, and invites those Member States to inform the leadership of the Force and the Secretary-General;

• Authorizes the Member States participating in the International Security Assistance Force to take all necessary measures to fulfill its mandate;

• Calls upon the International Security Assistance Force to work in close consultation with the Afghan Interim Authority in the implementation of the force mandate, as well as with the Special Representative of the Secretary-General;

• Calls upon all Afghans to cooperate with the International Security Assistance Force and relevant international governmental and non-governmental organizations, and welcomes the commitment of the parties to the Bonn Agreement to do all within their means and influence to ensure security, including to ensure the safety, security and freedom of movement of all United Nations personnel and all other personnel of international governmental and non-governmental organizations deployed in Afghanistan;

• Takes note of the pledge made by the Afghan parties to the Bonn Agreement in Annex 1 to that Agreement to withdraw all military units from Kabul, and calls upon them to implement this pledge in cooperation with the International Security Assistance Force;

• Encourages neighbouring States and other Member States to provide to the International Security Assistance Force such necessary assistance as may be requested, including the provision of overflight clearances and transit;

• Stresses that the expenses of the International Security Assistance Force will be borne by the participating Member States concerned, requests the Secretary-General to establish a trust fund through which contributions could be channelled to the Member States or operations concerned, and encourages Member States to contribute to such a fund;

• Requests the leadership of the International Security Assistance Force to provide periodic reports on progress towards the implementation of its mandate through the Secretary-General;

• Calls on Member States participating in the International Security Assistance Force to provide assistance to help the Afghan Interim Authority in the establishment and training of new Afghan security and armed forces;

• Decides to remain actively seized of the matter."

Background

When the Security Council met this afternoon it had before it a letter dated 19 December from the Permanent Representative of the United Kingdom to the President of the Council (document S/2001/1217), containing an annex addressed to the Secretary-General.

In the annex, the United Kingdom informs the Secretary-General that it is willing to become the initial lead nation for the International Security Assistance Force for Kabul and its surrounding areas under the terms of Annex I to the Bonn Agreement.

As stated in that annex, the responsibility for providing security and law and order throughout Afghanistan resides with the Afghans themselves.

The International Force, according to the letter, will therefore assist the Interim Afghan Administration in the maintenance of security. The United Kingdom states that its proposal is based on the willingness expressed to receive such a force and an authorizing Council resolution.

According to the letter, the United Kingdom is prepared to serve as initial lead nation for approximately three months, and acting with the authority of the United Nations. It will transfer responsibility as the lead no later than 30 April 2002. It, therefore, asks the Secretary-General to support efforts to identify a successor lead nation by asking Member States to urgently consider the possibility of taking over the role.

The letter states that the Force will have a particular mission authorized by a Council resolution that is different from Operation Enduring Freedom. The United Kingdom, as the lead nation, will exercise command of the Force, which will include troops and equipment contributed by other nations and will also have the support of the United States.

Regarding the relationship between the International Security Assistance Force and other forces operating in Afghanistan under Operation Enduring Freedom, the letter states that, for reasons of effectiveness, the United States Central Command will have authority over the former so that activities between the two factions do not conflict with each other, and to ensure that there is no interference to the successful completion of Operation Enduring Freedom.

The letter also states that a joint coordinating body will be developed with representatives from the United States Central Command, the Afghan Interim Administration and the International Security Assistance Force to deal with operational issues.