Security Council resolution 2069 (2012) [on extension of the authorization of the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) until 13 Oct. 2013]
Symbol: S/RES/2069 (2012)
Date: 2012-10-09
Status: adopted
Agenda: S/67 [46] AFGHANISTAN SITUATION
Subjects: International Security Assistance Force|NATO|Afghan National Armed Forces|Afghan National Police|Charter of the United Nations (1945). Chapter VII|INTERNATIONAL POLICE|INTERNAL SECURITY|AFGHANISTAN|AFGHANISTAN SITUATION|MILITARY PERSONNEL|CAPACITY BUILDING
Votes in favour: 15
Votes against: 0
Abstentions: 0
Voting record:
country: AZERBAIJAN
vote: yes
country: CHINA
vote: yes
country: COLOMBIA
vote: yes
country: FRANCE
vote: yes
country: GERMANY
vote: yes
country: GUATEMALA
vote: yes
country: INDIA
vote: yes
country: MOROCCO
vote: yes
country: PAKISTAN
vote: yes
country: PORTUGAL
vote: yes
country: RUSSIAN FEDERATION
vote: yes
country: SOUTH AFRICA
vote: yes
country: TOGO
vote: yes
country: UNITED KINGDOM
vote: yes
country: UNITED STATES
vote: yes

               United Nations                                                                     S/RES/2069 (2012)
               Security Council                                                 Distr.: General
                                                                                9 October 2012




               Resolution 2069 (2012)
               Adopted by the Security Council at its 6843rd meeting, on
               9 October 2012

                    The Security Council,
                    Reaffirming its previous resolutions on Afghanistan, in particular its resolutions
               1386 (2001), 1510 (2003), 2011 (2011) and 2041 (2012),
                     Reaffirming also its resolutions 1267 (1999), 1368 (2001), 1373 (2001), 1822
               (2008), 1904 (2009), 1988 (2011) and 1989 (2011), and reiterating its support for
               international efforts to root out terrorism in accordance with the Charter of the United
               Nations,
                     Recalling its resolutions 1265 (1999), 1296 (2000), 1674 (2006), 1738 (2006)
               and 1894 (2009) on the protection of civilians in armed conflict, its resolutions 1325
               (2000), 1820 (2008), 1888 (2009), 1889 (2009) and 1960 (2010) on women and peace
               and security, and its resolutions 1612 (2005), 1882 (2009) and 1998 (2011) on
               children and armed conflict, noting as well the report of the Secretary-General on
               children and armed conflict in Afghanistan (S/2012/261) and the conclusions of its
               working group on children and armed conflict (S/AC.51/2011/3),
                     Reaffirming its strong commitment to the sovereignty, independence, territorial
               integrity and national unity of Afghanistan,
                     Recognizing that the responsibility for providing security and law and order
               throughout the country resides with the Afghan Authorities, stressing the role of the
               International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) in assisting the Afghan Government to
               improve the security situation and build its own security capabilities, and welcoming
               the cooperation of the Afghan Government with ISAF,
                    Underlining the pivotal importance of strengthening Afghan ownership and
               leadership, consistent with the Kabul Process, in all fields of governance,
                     Welcoming the conclusions of the International Conference on Afghanistan in
               Bonn (S/2011/762) which declared that the Process of Transition, to be completed by
               the end of 2014, should be followed by a Transformation Decade (2015-2024) in
               which Afghanistan consolidates its sovereignty through strengthening a fully
               functioning, sustainable state in the service of its people, and welcoming further the
               strategic consensus between the Government of Afghanistan and the International
               Community on a renewed and enduring partnership for this Transformation Decade


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               based on firm mutual commitments, and welcoming the conclusions of the Tokyo
               Conference on Afghanistan (S/2012/532) and the adoption of the Tokyo Mutual
               Accountability Framework to support the sustainable economic growth and
               development of Afghanistan, in which the Afghan Government and the International
               Community reaffirmed their mutual commitments,
                     Recognizing once again the interconnected nature of the challenges in
               Afghanistan, reaffirming that sustainable progress on security, governance, human
               rights, rule of law and development as well as the cross-cutting issues of counternarcotics, anti-corruption and accountability are mutually reinforcing and that
               governance and development programmes prioritized for implementation in transition
               should be consistent with the goals set forth in the Tokyo Declaration and the National
               Priority Programmes and welcoming the continuing efforts of the Afghan Government
               and the international community to address these challenges through a comprehensive
               approach,
                     Stressing in this context the need for further efforts by the Afghan Government
               to fight corruption, promote transparency and increase its accountability, in line with
               the Afghan Government’s commitment to strengthen measures to combat corruption
               as reinforced in the Tokyo Conference Conclusions and the Tokyo Mutual
               Accountability Framework,
                    Welcoming the long-term commitments taken by Afghanistan’s international
               partners, including NATO, the European Union (EU), neighbouring States and
               regional partners to continue supporting Afghanistan beyond transition, including
               during the Transformation Decade, stressing the importance of their complementary
               nature, including with future bilateral partnerships decided by the Government of
               Afghanistan,
                     Underlining the significance of the agreement reached between the Government
               of Afghanistan and countries contributing to ISAF, at the North Atlantic Treaty
               Organization (NATO) Summit in Lisbon, to gradually transfer full security
               responsibility in Afghanistan to the Government of Afghanistan countrywide by the
               end of 2014, welcoming the ongoing implementation of the first three tranches of
               transition and looking forward to the phased completion of the process in the
               remaining parts of the country and the midmilestone when all areas will have
               entered the transition process and Afghan forces will be in the lead for security
               nationwide, underlining ISAF’s continuing role, in support of the Government of
               Afghanistan, in promoting a responsible transition and the importance of the
               enhancement of the capabilities of the Afghan national security forces (ANSF),
                     Acknowledging the progress made and the challenges remaining in security
               sector reform and governance, welcoming the continuous support and assistance
               extended to the Afghan National Police by the international partners in this regard, in
               particular the continued commitment of the NATO Training Mission in Afghanistan,
               the European Union police mission (EUPOL Afghanistan), and the European
               Gendarmerie Force (EGF) and, in the context of transition, welcoming the increased
               capacities and capabilities of the ANSF, stressing the need for Afghanistan together
               with international donors to further strengthen the Afghan National Army and the
               Afghan National Police urging, inter alia, continued professional training measures to
               ensure Afghan capability to assume, in a sustainable manner, increasing responsibilities
               and leadership of security operations and maintaining public order, law enforcement,
               the security of Afghanistan’s borders and the preservation of the constitutional rights


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           of Afghan citizens as well as to increase its efforts in disbandment of illegal armed
           groups and counter narcotics, as outlined most recently in the Chicago Summit Joint
           Declaration and the Tokyo Declaration,
                 Welcoming the Chicago Summit Joint Declaration on Afghanistan which stresses
           the long-term commitment, beyond 2014, to lasting peace, security and stability in
           Afghanistan, noting the responsibility of the Government of Afghanistan to sustain a
           sufficient and capable ANSF supported by the international community, welcoming, in
           this context, the decision of the international community, taken at the International
           Conference on Afghanistan in Bonn on 5 December 2011, to support the training,
           equipping, financing and capability development of the ANSF beyond the end of the
           transition period, welcoming as reaffirmed in the Chicago Summit Joint Declaration
           the financial sustainment of the ANSF with a clear view to the assumption, no later
           than 2024, of full financial responsibility for its own security forces by the
           Government of Afghanistan, welcoming the expectation of the Government of
           Afghanistan and NATO for NATO to continue training, advising and assisting the
           ANSF post-2014,
                  Noting regional initiatives on Afghanistan such as the Istanbul Process on
           Regional Security and Cooperation for a Secure and Stable Afghanistan, the last
           Ministerial Conference of which was held in Kabul on 14 June 2012, the RECCA
           initiative of which the Fifth Regional Economic Cooperation Conference on
           Afghanistan (RECCA V) was held in Dushanbe, Tajikistan on 26-27 March 2012, the
           Delhi Investment Summit of 28 June 2012 as well as initiatives such as those being
           implemented in the framework of the South Asian Association for Regional
           Cooperation (SAARC), the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO), the Collective
           Security Treaty Organization (CSTO), the EU, the Organization for Security and
           Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) and other relevant initiatives aimed at increased
           regional economic cooperation with Afghanistan such as enhanced trade and
           infrastructural connectivity along historical trade routes, energy supply, transport and
           integrated border management, and welcoming, in this context, the outcome of the
           “Istanbul Conference for Afghanistan: Security and Cooperation in the Heart of Asia”
           of 2 November 2011 and the follow-up “Heart of Asia-Ministerial conference Kabul”
           on 14 June 2012 which respectively launched and furthered the Istanbul Process,
           where Afghanistan and its regional partners, with the support of the international
           community, affirmed their commitment to strengthen regional security and
           cooperation for a secure and stable Afghanistan, including through enhanced regional
           dialogue and confidence-building measures, and looking forward to future meetings
           thereof, and noting that the Istanbul Process is intended to complement and cooperate
           with, and not substitute for, existing efforts of regional organizations, particularly
           where they relate to Afghanistan,
                 Recognizing the importance of the contribution of neighbouring and regional
           partners as well as regional organizations including the EU, OSCE, SCO, CSTO and
           SAARC to the stabilization of Afghanistan, stressing the crucial importance of
           advancing regional cooperation as an effective means to promote security, governance
           and development in Afghanistan, welcoming and supporting increased regional efforts
           towards the continued implementation of previous declarations of good neighbourly
           relations,
                Stressing the central and impartial role that the United Nations continues to play
           in promoting peace and stability in Afghanistan by leading the efforts of the



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               international community, noting, in this context, the synergies in the objectives of the
               United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) and of ISAF, and, as
               transition moves forward, stressing the need for strengthened cooperation,
               coordination and mutual support, taking due account of their respective designated
               responsibilities and the evolving nature and adjusted size of the international
               community’s presence,
                     Expressing its serious concern about the security situation in Afghanistan, in
               particular the ongoing violent and terrorist activities by the Taliban, Al-Qaida and
               other violent and extremist groups, illegal armed groups and criminals, including
               those involved in the production, trafficking or trade of illicit drugs, as described in
               the reports of the Secretary-General since the adoption of UNSCR 2011 (2011), and
               the strong links between terrorism activities and illicit drugs, resulting in threats to the
               local population, including children, as well as to the national security forces and
               international military and civilian personnel,
                      Welcoming the efforts of the Government of Afghanistan to update and improve
               the National Drug Control Strategy, with a particular emphasis on a partnership
               approach to ensure joint, effective implementation and coordination, encouraging
               ISAF to further, effectively support, within its designated responsibilities, Afghan-led
               sustained efforts, including efforts by the ANSF, to address drug production and
               trafficking, in cooperation with relevant international and regional actors, recognizing
               the threat posed by illicit drug production, trade and trafficking to international peace
               and stability in different regions of the world, and the important role played by the
               United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) in this regard, and remaining
               concerned at the serious harm that opium cultivation, production and trafficking and
               consumption continue to cause to the security, development and governance of
               Afghanistan as well as to the region and beyond, and commending the Paris Pact
               Initiative as one of the most important frameworks in the fight against opiates
               originating in Afghanistan,
                     Expressing also its concern over the harmful consequences of violent and
               terrorist activities by the Taliban, Al-Qaida and other violent and extremist groups and
               illegal armed groups on the capacity of the Afghan Government to guarantee the rule
               of law, to provide security and basic services to the Afghan people, and to ensure the
               full enjoyment of their human rights and fundamental freedoms,
                    Reiterating its support for the continuing endeavours by the Afghan Government,
               with the assistance of the international community, including ISAF and the Operation
               Enduring Freedom (OEF) coalition, to further improve the security situation and to
               continue to address the threat posed by the Taliban, Al-Qaida and other violent and
               extremist groups and illegal armed groups, and stressing in this context the need for
               sustained international efforts, including those of ISAF and the OEF coalition,
                     Condemning in the strongest terms all attacks, including improvised explosive
               device (IED) attacks, suicide attacks, assassinations and abductions, indiscriminate
               targeting of civilians, attacks against humanitarian workers and targeting of Afghan
               and international forces and their deleterious effect on the stabilization, reconstruction
               and development efforts in Afghanistan, and condemning further the use by the
               Taliban, Al-Qaida and other violent and extremist groups and illegal armed groups of
               civilians as human shields,




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                 Welcoming the Afghan Government’s achievements in banning ammonium
           nitrate fertilizer, and urging continued action to implement regulations for the control
           of all explosive materials and precursor chemicals, thereby reducing the ability of
           insurgents to use them for improvised explosive devices,
                 Recognizing the continuing threats posed by the Taliban, Al-Qaida and other
           violent and extremist groups and illegal armed groups as well as the challenges related
           to the efforts to address such threats,
                 Expressing its serious concern with the high number of civilian casualties in
           Afghanistan, in particular women and children casualties, the increasingly large
           majority of which are caused by Taliban, Al-Qaida and other violent and extremist
           groups and illegal armed groups, condemning in the strongest terms the high number
           of attacks targeting schools, including their burning and forced closure, their use by
           armed groups, and the intimidation, abduction and killing of education personnel,
           particularly those attacks targeting girls’ education by armed groups including the
           Taliban and welcoming, in this context, the listing of the Taliban in the annex of the
           report of the Secretary-General on children and armed conflict in Afghanistan
           (S/2012/261) pursuant to Security Council resolution 1998 (2011), reaffirming that all
           parties to armed conflict must take all feasible steps to ensure the protection of
           affected civilians, especially women, children and displaced persons, calling for all
           parties to comply with their obligations under international humanitarian and human
           rights law and for all appropriate measures to be taken to ensure the protection of
           civilians, and recognizing the importance of the ongoing monitoring and reporting to
           the United Nations Security Council, including by ISAF, of the situation of civilians
           and in particular civilian casualties, and noting in this regard the work of the ISAF
           Civilian Casualties Mitigation Team,
                 Taking note of the further progress made by ISAF and other international forces
           in minimizing the civilian casualties, as recognized in the 2012 midyear report by
           UNAMA on the protection of civilians in armed conflict, urging ISAF and other
           international forces to continue to undertake enhanced efforts to prevent civilian
           casualties, including the increased focus on protecting the Afghan population as a
           central element of the mission, and noting the importance of conducting continuous
           reviews of tactics and procedures and after-action reviews and investigations in
           cooperation with the Afghan Government in cases where civilian casualties have
           occurred and when the Afghan Government finds these joint investigations
           appropriate, as well as continuing cooperation with the ANSF towards the further
           institutionalization of protection of civilians,
                 Expressing its strong concern about recruitment and use of children by Taliban
           forces in Afghanistan as well as the killing and maiming of children as a result of the
           conflict, supporting the decree by the Minister of the Interior reaffirming the
           government’s commitment to preventing violations of the rights of the child dated
           6 July 2011, welcoming the establishment of the Afghan Inter-Ministerial Steering
           Committee on Children and Armed Conflict and the progress made on implementation
           of the Action Plan, and calling for the full implementation of the provisions of the
           plan, in close cooperation with UNAMA,
                Stressing in this context the importance of further progress by the Afghan
           Government in ending impunity and strengthening judicial institutions, in the
           reconstruction and reform of the prison sector, and the rule of law and respect for
           human rights within Afghanistan, including for women and girls, and in particular


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               women’s rights under the Constitution to fully participate in the political, economic
               and social spheres of Afghan life, and welcoming, in this regard, the National Police
               Plan and the objectives set therein for increased training in human rights, including
               gender issues, and increased recruitment of women,
                    Reiterating its call on all Afghan parties and groups to engage constructively in
               peaceful political dialogue as within the framework of the Afghan Constitution and to
               work together with international donors for the socioeconomic development of the
               country and to avoid resorting to violence including through the use of illegal armed
               groups, supporting the aims of the High Peace Council,
                     Reiterating its firm commitment to support the Government of Afghanistan in its
               efforts to advance the peace and reconciliation process, in line with the Kabul
               Communiqué and the Bonn Conference Conclusions, and within the framework of the
               Afghan Constitution and application of the procedures introduced by the Security
               Council in its resolution 1988 (2011) as well as other relevant resolutions of the
               Council,
                     Welcoming the continuing efforts of the Afghan Government to advance the
               peace and reconciliation process, including by the High Peace Council and the
               implementation of the Afghanistan Peace and Reconciliation Programme, to promote
               an inclusive, Afghan-led dialogue on reconciliation and political participation as laid
               forth in the 20 July 2010 Kabul Conference Communiqué on dialogue for all those
               who renounce violence, have no links to international terrorist organizations,
               including Al-Qaida, respect the constitution, including its human rights provisions,
               notably the rights of women, and are willing to join in building a peaceful Afghanistan,
               and as further elaborated in the principles and outcomes of the 5 December 2011 Bonn
               Conference Conclusions supported by the Government of Afghanistan and the
               international community, with full respect for the implementation of measures and
               application of the procedures introduced by the Security Council in its resolutions
               1267 (1999) and 1988 (2011) as well as other relevant resolutions of the Council,
               calling on all relevant States to remain engaged in the peace process, and recognizing
               the impact terrorist attacks have on the Afghan people and risk having on future
               prospects for a peace settlement,
                     Recognizing that an increased number of the Taliban have reconciled with the
               Government of Afghanistan, have rejected the terrorist ideology of Al-Qaida and its
               followers, and support a peaceful resolution to the continuing conflict in Afghanistan,
               recognizing also that notwithstanding the evolution of the situation in Afghanistan and
               progress in reconciliation, security remains a serious challenge in Afghanistan and the
               region,
                     Recognizing also the increased number of reintegrees that have joined the
               Afghanistan Peace and Reintegration Programme (APRP), welcoming the results of
               the APRP Review Conference in May 2011 and recent efforts to ensure its
               implementation and encouraging further efforts to address remaining operational
               challenges, including through an appropriate vetting mechanism, and further
               encouraging the international community to support this Afghan-led effort,
                     Recalling the Government of Afghanistan’s commitments, most recently at the
               Tokyo Conference, to strengthen and improve Afghanistan’s electoral process,
               including long-term electoral reform, in order to ensure that future elections will be
               transparent, credible and democratic and reaffirming that Afghanistan’s peaceful



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           future lies in the building of a stable, secure, economically sustainable State, free of
           terrorism and narcotics and based on the rule of law, strengthened democratic
           institutions, respect for the separation of powers, reinforced constitutional checks and
           balances and the guarantee and enforcement of citizens’ rights and obligations,
                 Welcoming the efforts of the international community carried out to strengthen
           the coherence of military and civilian actions, including those within the framework of
           ISAF,
               Welcoming also the continued coordination between ISAF and the OEF coalition,
           and in-theatre cooperation established between ISAF and the EU presence in
           Afghanistan,
                 Expressing its appreciation for the leadership provided by NATO and for the
           contributions of many nations to ISAF and to the OEF coalition, which operates
           within the framework of the counter-terrorism operations in Afghanistan and in
           accordance with the applicable rules of international law,
                 Determining that the situation in Afghanistan still constitutes a threat to
           international peace and security,
                Determined to ensure the full implementation of the mandate of ISAF, in
           coordination with the Afghan Government,
                Acting for these reasons under Chapter VII of the Charter of the United Nations,
                1.   Decides to extend the authorization of the International Security Assistance
           Force (ISAF), as defined in resolutions 1386 (2001) and 1510 (2003), for a period of
           twelve months until 13 October 2013;
               2.     Authorizes the Member States participating in ISAF to take all necessary
           measures to fulfil its mandate;
                 3.    Recognizes the need for ISAF to meet all its operational requirements,
           welcomes the agreement between the Government of Afghanistan and countries
           contributing to ISAF to gradually transfer full security responsibility in Afghanistan to
           the Afghan Government countrywide by the end of 2014 and the ongoing
           implementation of the transition process since July 2011, and calls upon Member
           States to contribute personnel, equipment and other resources to ISAF and to continue
           to pursue their efforts to support security, stability and transition in Afghanistan;
                 4.    Welcomes the strong commitment of the Government of Afghanistan to
           further develop, with the support of ISAF nations, an ANSF which is governed by the
           Afghan Constitution and is capable of providing peace, security and stability to all
           Afghans operating under effective civilian leadership and in accordance with the rule
           of law, and respecting human rights, and capable of contributing to the region’s
           security through the stabilization of the situation in Afghanistan;
                  5.    Welcomes the commitment by NATO and the Afghan Government to
           further develop the NATO-Afghanistan Enduring Partnership signed at Lisbon in 2010
           in all its dimensions, up to 2014 and beyond, and in particular the intention expressed
           therein to provide, within the framework of the Enduring Partnership, sustained
           practical support aimed at improving and sustaining Afghanistan’s capacity and
           capability to tackle continued threats to its security, stability and integrity, and to
           contribute to the region’s security through the stabilization of the situation in
           Afghanistan;


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                      6.   Stresses the importance of increasing, in a comprehensive framework, the
               functionality, professionalism and accountability of the Afghan security sector,
               encourages ISAF and other partners to sustain their efforts, as resources permit, to
               train, mentor and empower the Afghan national security forces, in order to accelerate
               progress towards the goal of self-sufficient, sustainable, accountable and ethnically
               balanced Afghan security forces providing security and ensuring the rule of law
               throughout the country, welcomes the increasing leadership role played by the Afghan
               Authorities in security responsibilities throughout the country, and welcomes the
               substantial progress made in the expansion of the Afghan National Army and the
               Afghan National Police and stresses the importance of supporting the further
               professionalization of these institutions;
                    7.   Calls upon ISAF and the NATO Senior Civilian Representative to continue
               to work in close consultation with the Afghan Government and the Special
               Representative of the United Nations Secretary-General in accordance with Security
               Council resolution 2041 (2012) as well as with the OEF coalition in the
               implementation of the ISAF mandate;
                    8.    Requests the leadership of ISAF to keep the Security Council regularly
               informed, through the United Nations Secretary-General, on the implementation of its
               mandate, including through the timely provision of quarterly reports;
                    9.    Decides to remain actively seized of this matter.




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