Security Council approves international force in Afghanistan for another year

The Security Council today voted unanimously to extend the mandate of the international troop force in Afghanistan for another year and called upon countries to commit more personnel and funds so that it can work more effectively.

Extending the life of the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) at least until 13 October next year, the resolution noted that the responsibility for maintaining law and order ultimately rested with the Afghans themselves.

It urged ISAF, which has been expanded across the country in the last year after being confined before to the capital Kabul, to work closely with Afghanistan's transitional administration and successors.

Eurocorps - a multinational army comprised of forces from Belgium, France, Germany, Luxembourg and Spain - took over the command of ISAF from Canada in August.

The resolution also stressed the importance of conducting free and fair elections, disarming and reintegrating ex-combatants, combating the illegal drug trade and ensuring central government authority extends across all of Afghanistan.