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Afghan security worsening: UN

* Eide urges police expansion to make it responsible for day-to-day security
* Says improved Pak-Afghan relations represented ‘the most important new trend’ and should be encouraged

UNITED NATIONS: Security in Afghanistan has worsened in recent months and the international community must redouble efforts to help build up the Afghan police, the top UN official in Afghanistan said on Thursday.

“The security situation today is worse than it was three months ago,” UN special envoy Kai Eide told Reuters in an interview on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly.

As a result of the deteriorating security atmosphere, countries active in Afghanistan have been ‘distracted’ from fulfilling commitments they made at a conference in Paris in

June to support the rebuilding of Afghanistan’s institutions and to promote sustainable economic development.

“Now is the time to return to the Paris agenda,” he said.

Eide said there would be an annual lull in violence due to the harsh winter, which makes it difficult for militants to launch attacks. This would be a chance for the international community to redouble efforts to help rebuild Afghanistan. “What we need most of all is a political surge,” he said.

Afghanistan needs a major boost in building up key institutions and some countries that had promised to help were not living up to their commitments, he said.

“I’m not saying that the next six months are decisive, but they’re very important. ... It’s a window of opportunity.”

Police: He said it was good that the Afghan army was expanded but it was time to do the same with the police, who will eventually be responsible for the country’s day-to-day security.

In his speech to the General Assembly on Wednesday, Afghan President Hamid Karzai appealed for more international help to train and equip both his army and police.

Having Afghan soldiers shoulder more military duties would also reduce civilian casualties resulting from US and NATO military actions that have angered the population, he said.

Eide also said it was crucial to engage in dialogue with insurgents, something Karzai’s government has tried to do with its programme of reconciliation for willing Taliban.

“If you want results that matter, you have to talk to the people that matter,” he said.

Eide said improved relations between the governments of Afghanistan and Pakistan represented “the most important new trend” and should be encouraged. reuters

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