United Nations Security Council Resolution 1589

Adopted unanimously by the Security Council at its 5148th meeting, on 24 March 2005

The Security Council,

Recalling its previous resolutions on Afghanistan, in particular its resolution 1536 (2004) of 26 March 2004 extending the mandate of the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) through 26 March 2005,

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

Welcoming once again the successful holding of the presidential election on 9 October 2004,

Recognizing the urgent need to tackle the ongoing challenges in Afghanistan, including the fight against narcotics, the lack of security in certain areas, terrorist threats, comprehensive nationwide disarmament, demobilization and reintegration of the Afghan Militia Forces and disbandment of illegal armed groups, timely preparation for the parliamentary, provincial and district elections, development of Afghan Government institutions, acceleration of justice sector reform, promotion and protection of human rights, and economic and social development,

Reaffirming in this context its continued support for the implementation of the provisions of the Bonn Agreement of 5 December 2001, and of the Berlin Declaration of 1 April 2004 including its annexes, and pledging its continued support thereafter for the Government and people of Afghanistan as they rebuild their country, strengthen the foundations of a constitutional democracy and assume their rightful place in the community of nations,

Recalling and emphasizing the importance of the Kabul Declaration of 22 December 2002 on Good-Neighbourly Relations (S/2002/1416), and encouraging all States concerned to continue to follow up on the Kabul Declaration and the Declaration on Trade, Transit and Inward Investment signed in Dubai in September 2003,

Expressing its appreciation and strong support for the ongoing efforts of the Secretary-General and his Special Representative for Afghanistan, and stressing the central and impartial role that the United Nations continues to play in promoting peace and stability in Afghanistan,

1. Welcomes the report of the Secretary-General of 18 March 2005 (S/2005/183);

2. Decides to extend the mandate of UNAMA for an additional period of 12 months from the date of adoption of this resolution;

3. Stresses the importance of urgently establishing a framework for the holding at the earliest possible date of free and fair elections, welcomes in this regard the announcement of the Joint Electoral Management Body that elections for the lower house of the parliament (Wolesi Jirga) and provincial councils will be held on 18 September 2005, calls upon UNAMA to continue to provide necessary support in order to facilitate timely elections with the broadest possible participation, and urges the donor community to promptly make available the necessary financial support based on that framework, in close coordination with the Government of Afghanistan and UNAMA, and to consider contributing to electoral observer missions;

4. Stresses the importance of security for the credible parliamentary, provincial and district elections, and to this end calls upon Member States to contribute personnel, equipment and other resources to support the expansion of the International Security Assistance Force and the establishment of provincial reconstruction teams in other parts of Afghanistan, and to coordinate closely with UNAMA and the Government of Afghanistan;

5. Welcomes the international efforts to assist in setting up the new Afghan Parliament and ensure its efficient functioning, which will be critical to the political future of Afghanistan and the steps towards a free and democratic Afghanistan;

6. Welcomes the substantial progress in the disarmament, demobilization and reintegration (DDR) process in accordance with the Bonn Agreement, encourages the Government of Afghanistan to continue its active efforts to accelerate the DDR process towards its completion by June 2006, to disband the illegal armed groups and to dispose of the ammunition stockpile, and requests the international community to further extend assistance for these efforts;

7. Welcomes the effort to date of the Government of Afghanistan to implement its national drug control strategy adopted in May 2003, including through the launch of the 2005 Counter Narcotics Implementation Plan in February 2005, which reflects a new determination of the Government to tackle the cultivation, production and trafficking of drugs, urges the Government to take decisive action to stop the processing and trade of drugs and to pursue the specific measures set out in that plan in the fields of building institutions, information campaigns, alternative livelihoods, interdiction and law enforcement, criminal justice, eradication, demand reduction and treatment of addicts, and regional cooperation, and calls on the international community to provide every possible assistance to the Government in pursuing full implementation of all aspects of the plan;

8. Supports the fight against the illicit trafficking of drugs and precursors within Afghanistan and in neighbouring States and countries along trafficking routes, including increased cooperation among them to strengthen anti-narcotic controls to curb the drug flow, and welcomes in this context the signing on 1 April 2004 of the Berlin Declaration on Counter-Narcotics within the framework of the Kabul Declaration on Good-neighbourly Relations of 22 December 2002;

9. Requests UNAMA to continue to support the ongoing effort for the establishment of a fair and transparent justice system, including the reconstruction and reform of the prison sector, in order to strengthen the rule of law throughout the country;

10. Calls for full respect for human rights and international humanitarian law throughout Afghanistan and, in this regard, requests UNAMA, with the support of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, to continue to assist in the full implementation of the human rights provisions of the new Afghan constitution, in particular those regarding the full enjoyment by women of their human rights, commends the Afghan Independent Human Rights Commission for its courageous efforts to monitor respect for human rights in Afghanistan as well as to foster and protect these rights, welcomes in this regard the Commission’s report of 29 January 2005 and the proposed national strategy for transitional justice, and requests international support for that endeavour;

11. Welcomes the development of the Afghan National Army and Afghan National Police and the ongoing efforts to increase their capabilities as important steps towards the goal of Afghan security forces providing security and ensuring the rule of law throughout the country;

12. Calls upon the Government of Afghanistan, with the assistance of the international community, including the Operation Enduring Freedom coalition and the International Security Assistance Force, in accordance with their respective designated responsibilities as they evolve, to continue to address the threat to the security and stability of Afghanistan posed by Al-Qaida operatives, the Taliban and other extremist groups, factional violence among militia forces and criminal activities, in particular violence involving the drug trade;

13. Requests the Secretary-General to report to the Council in a timely manner on developments in Afghanistan, and make recommendations on the future role of UNAMA, after the parliamentary elections;

14. Decides to remain actively seized of the matter.