The FAO Journal International Affairs - Faoa

Page 30 “The FAO Journal” International AffairsUN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan After Eight Years:Should UN Assistance Continue?By: CPT Ivan E. Raiklin, US Army National GuardWhile many still wonder what thestrategic importance of being in Afghanistanbrings to world stability and to thesecurity interests of the nations involvedin Afghanistan (particularly those fromNATO, Iran, and Pakistan) this essay outlinesthe UN‘s role in Afghanistan and includesexamples of then costs and benefitsassociated with various projects. Itwill introduce the reader to the overalllevel of involvement of the UN in Afghanistan andhow each of the 23 subunits of the UN System assistin the development of this war-torn nation. As we willsee, each of the 23 subordinate bodies offer variedlevels of value-added to theCOIN strategy in Afghanistan. Itis necessary to recognize theUN‘s role and capabilities by allparties in Afghanistan in order tofully maximize its benefits avoidredundancies and combine momentumwhere feasible.First, the creation of UNAMA. ―Over the pastsixty years, United Nations peacekeeping hasevolved into one of the main tools used by the internationalcommunity to manage complex crises thatpose a threat to international peace and security.‖Since the withdrawal of Soviet troops in 1989 andwithout a viable government controlling Afghanistanin 1990s, it became a safe haven for terrorists. Withthe attack on the United States in 2001, Afghanistanbecame priority #1 in the fight against global terrorism.It was and (to some extent) remains a safehavenfor terrorism due to weak government institutionsunable to repel the terrorist and criminal threat.At the end of 2001 in Bonn, Germany, the UNSecurity Council authorized the deployment of UNpeacekeeping operations to Afghanistan in order tomaintain security and public order, and to develop aplan in order to establish a government in Afghanistanafter the initial US intervention. The UN organizationcharged with overseeing this, the UN Departmentof Peacekeeping Operations (UNDPKO) laidout the framework for an International Security AssistanceForce (ISAF). This mandate created the requisitelegitimacy for conducting peacekeeping operationsin Afghanistan.With a mixed record, and dimprospects, what are the costs andbenefits of the United NationsAssistance Mission in Afghanistanremaining versus withdrawing?Following the Bonn Agreement, UNAMAwas created on 28 Mar 2002 with the passageof UN Security Council Resolution1401 wherein, ―Endorses the establishment,for an initial period of 12 monthsfrom the date of adoption of this resolution,of a United Nations Assistance Missionin Afghanistan, with the mandate andstructure laid out in the report of theSecGen of 18 Mar 2002. This mandatehas been renewed on a yearly basis with the currentmandate set to expire at the end of 2010. In additionto these mandates, the framework for cooperationbetween the Government of Afghanistan, the UnitedNations and the internationalcommunity has been outlinedand agreed in the AfghanistanCompact of 2006, the AfghanistanNational DevelopmentStrategy (ANDS) and the ParisConference of June 2008. Alllay the framework for workingtowards peace and security, rule of law, good governance,human rights protection and sustainableeconomic and social development.“The Uniquely broad representation of MemberStates who contribute personnel and funding toUN operations further strengthens this internationallegitimacy in the mission.”Overall, the UN‘s peacekeeping role in Afghanistanfocuses on the following:1 - Create a secure and stable environment whilestrengthening the State‘s ability to provide security,with full respect for the rule of law and human rights;2 - Facilitate the political process promoting dialogueand reconciliation, and supporting the establishmentof legitimate and effective government institutions;3 - Provide a framework for ensuring that all UnitedNations and other international actors pursue theiractivities at the country-level in a coherent and coordinatedmanner.‖As an ‗integrated‘ Mission, UNAMA has two mainareas of activities: political affairs and developmentand humanitarian issues. The Mission currently hassome 1,500 staff, the vast majority of whom (around