A UN envoy said Tuesday that the people of Afghanistan are taking their destiny into their own hands and are unanimous in demanding an end to the country's years of war, dpa reported.
The newly appointed UN special envoy for Afghanistan, Jan Kubis, said the world is facing a "very different set of ground realities" in the country, which is increasingly taking over security responsibilities being performed by US and NATO troops.
"The people of Afghanistan, but also the international military forces, are often pushed to the limit by the cumulative effects of this conflict, its tragedies and pressures," Kubis told the UN Security Council.
"The message of the people is clear - it is time to wind down this war," said Kubis, who began heading the UN Assistance Mission Afghanistan (UNAMA) in January.
Kabul is totally responsible for security in five provinces and scores of districts in 13 other provinces.
The 15-nation council plans to renew on Thursday UNAMA's mandate for another 12 months so international assistance to Kabul can continue.
Germany, which maintains troops in NATO forces in Afghanistan, supports the new United Nations mandate, but also calls for Kabul to meet international expectations on progress in development, governance, democracy and human rights.
"The new mandate represents a true milestone in the relationship between the UN and Afghanistan," German Ambassador Peter Wittig said. "It has been customized according to both the imperatives of the transition process and the comparative advantages of the United Nations."