United Nations A/54/918–S/2000/581 General Assembly Distr.: General Security Council 16 June 2000 Original: English General Assembly Security Council Fifty-fourth session Fifty-fifth year Agenda item 50 The situation in Afghanistan and its implications for international peace and security The situation in Afghanistan and its implications for international peace and security Report of the Secretary-General I. Introduction Afghanistan on three occasions during the reporting period. He twice held talks with the Taliban Foreign 1. The present report is submitted pursuant to Minister, Wakil Ahmad Mutawakkil, first in Kabul on paragraph 31 of General Assembly resolution 54/189 A 13 April and then in Kandahar on 25 May. He also had of 17 December 1999, in which the Assembly a meeting in Kandahar on 27 April with the Governor requested the Secretary-General to report every three of the Province, Mullah Mohammad Hassan Rahmani, months during its fifty-fourth session on the progress and with Deputy Foreign Minister Mullah Abdul Jalil of the United Nations Special Mission to Afghanistan Akhund. On 28 May, Mr. Vendrell received visiting (UNSMA). The present report, which covers Deputy Foreign Minister Jalil at the UNSMA office in developments since the issuance of my first quarterly Islamabad. Mr. Vendrell also travelled to Dushanbe on report of 10 March 2000 (A/54/791-S/2000/205), is 19 April for talks with Commander Ahmad Shah also submitted in response to requests by the Security Massoud, Haji Abdul Qadir, ex-Governor of Nangarhar Council for regular information on the main Province and Shiite commander Sayid Hussain Anwari, developments in Afghanistan. a leader of the Harakat-e-Islami. My Personal Representative also had meetings in May with other United Front leaders, including Mr. Mohammad Karim II. Recent developments in Khalili of the Hezb-e-Wahdat, General Abdul Rashid Afghanistan Dostum of the Jombesh-e-Melli-ye Islami-ye Afghanistan, and Mr. Ismail Khan, former Governor of A. Activities of my Personal Herat. Further talks with the United Front and Taliban Representative and of the Special senior officials were held on the margins of a meeting of the Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC) in Mission Jeddah in early May. Contacts with the Afghan parties 3. In his contacts with the parties, my Personal Representative conveyed the tenor of the discussions 2. My Personal Representative for Afghanistan and that took place in informal consultations and meetings Head of UNSMA, Francesc Vendrell, has visited of the Security Council as well as the contents of the 00-48366 (E) 220600 ````````` A/54/918 S/2000/581 presidential statement adopted by the Security Council the neighbouring countries. On the issue of Osama bin on 7 April 2000 (S/PRST/2000/12). In so doing, he Laden, they maintained the position that Mr. bin Laden underlined the Council’s deep concern at reports that had taken up residence in Afghanistan under a previous both parties to the conflict were preparing for renewed regime, that he had been a leading participant in the large-scale fighting and the consequences that might “jihad” and that Afghan traditions of hospitality ensue if the Council’s concerns were not heeded. While prevented them from surrendering Mr. bin Laden neither side gave any clear commitment, both declared against his will. As an alternative to Mr. bin Laden’s that any military actions by their respective sides voluntary departure, an option which the Taliban would be purely defensive in nature. recently said they would foster, the Taliban again proposed that he be tried in Afghanistan by a court 4. Other issues discussed by my Personal composed of ulemas drawn from Afghanistan, Saudi Representative included ideas as to how a peace Arabia and a third Islamic country. process under United Nations auspices might be structured; the establishment of a broadly based, multi- 6. Regarding the production and trade of illicit ethnic, fully representative government and the role drugs, the Taliban reminded my Personal therein of Mullah Mohammad Omar; the relations of Representative that this had been a longstanding the two sides with outside Powers, including Pakistan, problem in Afghanistan and expressed willingness to the Islamic Republic of Iran, the Central Asian progressively eliminate drug production, as advocated republics, the Russian Federation and the United States by Mullah Omar, provided the international community of America; the Security Council’s demand contained was willing to commit the necessary material resources in paragraph 2 of its resolution 1267 (1999) of 15 for the cultivation of alternative crops. October 1999 that the Taliban turn over Osama bin 7. Mr. Vendrell asked the two parties not to target Laden as well as the broader issue of terrorism and, the civilian population in the event of fighting, in line more concretely, the alleged existence of training with the Security Council’s condemnation of such a camps for foreign militants in areas controlled by the practice most recently expressed in its presidential Taliban; the continued interference of third countries in statement of 7 April 2000 (S/PRST/2000/12), and the affairs of Afghanistan and the presence of discussed issues related to the release of political foreigners in the fighting ranks of the Taliban; issues prisoners and prisoners of war. He also raised with the related to the production of and trade in narcotics; the Taliban allegations of serious human rights violations impact of the escape of Ismail Khan from a Kandahar and reports of the dismissal of female civil servants prison; relations among the various Northern Alliance from government service, as well as broader gender leaders, including Massoud, Dostum and Malik; and issues. the perception of the two warring parties of the eventual convening of a loya jirgah, or a traditional 8. On the question of the dismissal of civil servants, grand assembly, as advocated by non-belligerent the Taliban Foreign Minister gave the explanation that Afghan third parties such as the Rome process and the a lack of economic resources had forced the Taliban to Cyprus meeting. eliminate a large number of positions in the civil service and that this had inevitably had a negative 5. In reply the two sides reiterated their well-known impact on women, since they were receiving a salary positions, set forth in my previous report (A/54/791- without actually working. It may be recalled that, S/2000/205, paras. 4 and 5) on the establishment of a following strong protests by the international broad-based government and on the role that would be community about the wholesale dismissal of female accorded to Mullah Omar in it. Each side vehemently employees from the civil service shortly after the complained about persistent outside interference in Taliban took over Kabul, female employees had been support of the other side. The Taliban, while able to continue to draw their salaries without being acknowledging the presence in their territory of allowed to perform their jobs. foreigners who had participated in the “jihad” against the former Soviet Union, denied the existence of 9. My Personal Representative visited Rome on 12 training camps on their soil and repeated their and 13 June for a meeting with the former King of condemnation of terrorism and their willingness to Afghanistan, Zahir Shah, and members of his maintain friendly relations with the Governments of all entourage, as well as for talks with senior officials of 2 A/54/918 S/2000/581 the Italian Government. My Personal Representative Pickering, during the latter’s visit to Pakistan. The has also held numerous meetings with independent topics discussed at all these meetings included the Afghan personalities in Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and the situation in Afghanistan and its implications for Islamic Republic of Iran, including many who are regional and international security, prospects for peace supportive of the loya jirgah process. and means of achieving a lasting settlement, the role of the United Nations, including the Security Council and Other activities, including contact with other international organizations and mechanisms, concerned Governments terrorism and drug trafficking. 10. At the invitation of the Government of the 12. UNSMA, in the meantime, has strengthened its People’s Republic of China, my Personal presence in the region with the opening of its liaison Representative paid an official visit from 13 to office in Tehran, headed by the Deputy Head of the 15 March to Beijing, where he held consultations with Special Mission, and with the appointment of one of its the Vice Minister for Foreign Affairs, Wang Guangya, Political Affairs Officers to head the UNSMA office in and other senior Foreign Ministry officials. He also Kabul. visited Ashgabat from 16 to 18 April in response to an invitation from the Government of Turkmenistan. Activities of the Civil Affairs Unit During his visit Mr. Vendrell held meetings with the 13. The UNSMA Civil Affairs Unit continued its President of Turkmenistan, Saparmurat Niyazov, and deployment in Afghanistan. Its offices in Faizabad, with the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Boris which is currently under the control of the United Shikhmuradov. Both the Government of China and the Front, as well as those in Herat, Kabul and Kandahar Government of Turkmenistan reiterated their neutral are all now operational and an office in Jalalabad is stand on Afghanistan and their readiness to assist the expected to open shortly. Permission has so far been United Nations in its efforts towards peace. The denied by the Taliban to open an office in the northern Government of Turkmenistan also reiterated its city of Mazar-e-Sharif, where the situation is tense. willingness to assist in bringing the Afghan warring Pending a more permanent arrangement, the Civil parties together and to host further rounds of intra- Affairs Unit will nonetheless attempt to visit the area Afghan talks.