Security Council endorses development compact for Afghanistan

The United Nations Security Council today endorsed a framework for future partnership between the Government of Afghanistan and the international community to bolster the war-torn country’s security, economic development and counter-narcotics efforts.

The framework, known as the Afghan Compact, sets out a five-year agenda for sustained engagement with Afghanistan to help consolidate democratic institutions, curb insecurity, control the illegal drug trade, stimulate the economy, enforce the law, provide basic services to the Afghan people and protect their human rights.

Since its launch on 31 January, at a conference in London, the Compact has received widespread international support, including pledges of $10.5 billion for the interim Afghanistan National Development Strategy (iANDS), which the Council also welcomed today.

In its unanimously adopted resolution, the Council also welcomed the updated national Drug Control Strategy presented at the London conference and encouraged additional support for it.

The Council also praised the adoption by the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) of a revised Operational Plan that would allow for continued expansion of the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) across Afghanistan.

In other news on Afghanistan today, the UN Development Programme (UNDP) and the UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) announced that 23 former military commanders from various provinces of the country will graduate tomorrow from a business management course.

The Commanders Incentive Package (CIP) programme has reintegrated approximately 320 commanders and 140 Ministry of Defence generals into civilian life since its inception in 2004.