The
UN Security Council has extended the mandate of the United Nations
Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) for
another year, until March 17, 2015.
A
press release issued by the UNSC at the end its meeting in New York yesterday
said, the 15-member Council unanimously adopted a resolution that "the
mission would continue to lead and coordinate international civilian efforts in
Afghanistan, including support for the 2014 presidential election, the 2015
parliamentary elections and future electoral processes".
The
resolution also promises help to Afghanistan in building capacity and providing
technical assistance to its national institutions. The current mandate of the
UNAMA is to expire on March 19.
The
United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan is a political mission which
was constituted by the Security Council resolution in 2002 at the request of
the Afghan government for laying the foundations for sustainable peace and
development in the country. The UNAMA has played an important role in strengthening
electoral institutions in Afghanistan.
Meanwhile
nearly three weeks are left for the presidential and provincial council
elections in Afghanistan for which polling will take place on April 5. The
Election Commission has made elaborate arrangements for the smooth conduct of
the democratic process with the assistance of national security and other
agencies. The political campaigning for
the elections is, by and large, going on peacefully, although there are also
reports of stray incidents of violence against electoral officials and campaign
workers from different parts of the country.
The
mandate of another UN mandated mission of the 50-nation International Force in
Afghanistan will also expire by the end of this year and the NATO-led foreign
combat troops are planning to return to their respective countries by December
2014.