UN renews mission's mandate in Afghanistan to support transition

The UN Security Council renewed its mission's mandate in Afghanistan by another 12 months on Thursday, to continue assisting Kabul's "full assumption" of sovereign tasks, dpa reported.

The new mandate will keep the mission and several hundred international and local staff in the troubled nation until March 23, 2013.

The council said in a resolution adopted unanimously that it had taken into account Kabul's transition to the "full assumption of leadership and ownership in the security, governance and development areas."

The international community and Kabul have worked out strategic programmes at meetings held in Bonn, London and Lisbon to help Afghanistan's development, democratic reform and security. US and NATO forces are assuming major security tasks in the country.

The UN special envoy for Afghanistan, Jan Kubis, told the council earlier this week that the people of Afghanistan were taking destiny into their own hands and were unanimous in demanding an end to years of war.

"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 said on Tuesday.

"The message of the people is clear - it is time to wind down this war," he added.