Security Council resolution 2011 (2011) [on extension of the authorization of the International Security Assistance Force in Afghanistan (ISAF) until 13 Oct. 2012]
Symbol: S/RES/2011(2011)
Date: 2011-10-12
Status: adopted
Agenda: S/66 [46] AFGHANISTAN SITUATION
Subjects: International Security Assistance Force|NATO|Afghan National Armed Forces|Afghan National Police|Enduring Partnership Declaration (2010)|Charter of the United Nations (1945). Chapter VII|INTERNAL SECURITY|MILITARY PERSONNEL|CAPACITY BUILDING|AFGHANISTAN|AFGHANISTAN SITUATION|TRAINING PROGRAMMES
Votes in favour: 15
Votes against: 0
Abstentions: 0
Voting record:
country: BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA
vote: yes
country: BRAZIL
vote: yes
country: CHINA
vote: yes
country: COLOMBIA
vote: yes
country: FRANCE
vote: yes
country: GABON
vote: yes
country: GERMANY
vote: yes
country: INDIA
vote: yes
country: LEBANON
vote: yes
country: NIGERIA
vote: yes
country: PORTUGAL
vote: yes
country: RUSSIAN FEDERATION
vote: yes
country: SOUTH AFRICA
vote: yes
country: UNITED KINGDOM
vote: yes
country: UNITED STATES
vote: yes

               United Nations                                                                  S/RES/2011 (2011)
               Security Council                                                Distr.: General
                                                                               12 October 2011




               Resolution 2011 (2011)
               Adopted by the Security Council at its 6629th meeting,
               on 12 October 2011

                    The Security Council,
                     Reaffirming its previous resolutions on Afghanistan, in particular its
               resolutions 1386 (2001), 1510 (2003), 1943 (2010) and 1974 (2011),
                     Reaffirming also its resolutions 1267 (1999), 1368 (2001), 1373 (2001), 1822
               (2008), 1904 (2009), 1988 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/2011/55) and the subsequent
               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,
                    Welcoming the communiqués of the London Conference (S/2010/65) and the
               Kabul Conference which set a clear agenda and agreed priorities for the way ahead
               on Afghanistan, and underlining the pivotal importance of strengthening Afghan
               ownership and leadership, consistent with the Kabul Process, in all fields of
               governance,
                     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


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               that governance and development programs prioritised for implementation in
               transition should be consistent with the goals set forth in the Kabul Process 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
               after the London and Kabul Conferences,
                     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 lead
               security responsibility in Afghanistan to the Government of Afghanistan countrywide by the end of 2014, welcoming the ongoing implementation of the first phase
               of transition and looking forward to the phased extension of the process to the rest
               of the country, 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, stressing the
               long-term commitment, beyond 2014, of the international community to support the
               further development, including training, and professionalization of the Afghan
               national security forces and its capacity to counter continued threats to
               Afghanistan’s security, with a view to lasting peace, security and stability, noting
               that these issues will be discussed at the forthcoming NATO Summit in Chicago,
                    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, stressing the
               importance of their complementary nature, including with future bilateral
               partnerships decided by the Government of Afghanistan,
                     Looking forward to the International Afghanistan Conference in Bonn: “From
               Transition to Transformation”, on 5 December 2011, where civil aspects of
               transition, the long-term commitment of the international community in Afghanistan
               within its region, and the support of the political process will be further defined,
                    Looking forward to the “Istanbul Conference for Afghanistan: Cooperation and
               Security in the Heart of Asia” which will be held on 2 November 2011,
                     Noting regional initiatives such as those being implemented in the framework
               of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO), the Collective Security Treaty
               Organization (CSTO), the EU, the Organization for Security and Co-operation in
               Europe (OSCE), the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC)
               and other relevant initiatives aimed at increased regional economic cooperation with
               Afghanistan such as the vision of the New Silk Road, and looking forward to the
               Fifth Regional Economic Cooperation Conference on Afghanistan (RECCA) to be
               held in Tajikistan on 26-27 March 2012,
                     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
               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,


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           coordination and mutual support, taking due account of their respective designated
           responsibilities and the evolving nature 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, other
           illegal armed groups and criminals, including those involved in the narcotics trade,
           as described in the reports of the Secretary-General since the adoption of UNSCR
           1943 (2010), 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 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,
                 Expressing also its concern over the harmful consequences of violent and
           terrorist activities by the Taliban, Al-Qaida and other violent and extremist 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 improve the security
           situation and to continue to address the threat posed by the Taliban, Al-Qaida and
           other violent and extremist 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 of civilians as
           human shields,
                 Condemning in particular the recent terrorist attacks against the
           Inter Continental Hotel, British Council, the ISAF Headquarters and the Embassy of
           the United States in Kabul and deploring the loss of life in these attacks, including
           of Afghan civilians, police and security forces,
                 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,
                Noting the ratification of the Convention on Cluster Munitions by Afghanistan,



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                    Recognizing the continuing threats posed by the Taliban, Al-Qaida and other
               violent and extremist groups as well as the challenges related to the efforts to
               address such threats,
                     Expressing its serious concern with the increased 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, 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 Tracking Cell,
                     Taking note of the further progress made by ISAF and other international
               forces in minimizing the civilian casualties, as recognized in the 2011 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,
                     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 subsequent signing by the
               Afghan Government of the action plan, and its annex, on children associated with
               national security forces in Afghanistan and calling for the full implementation of the
               provisions of the plan, in close cooperation with UNAMA,
                     Acknowledging the progress made and the challenges remaining in security
               sector reform and governance, welcoming the 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
               Gendarmerie Force (EGF) contribution to this mission and assistance extended to
               the Afghan National Police including through the European Union police mission
               (EUPOL Afghanistan), and, in the context of transition, welcoming the increased
               capacities and capabilities of the Afghan national security forces, 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 of Afghan citizens as well



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           as to increase its efforts in disbandment of illegal armed groups and counternarcotics, as outlined in the London Conference and the Kabul Conference
           communiqués,
                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
           women’s rights under the Constitution to fully participate in the political, economic
           and social spheres of Afghan life,
                 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 socio-economic 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,
                 Strongly condemning the assassination of Professor Burhanuddin Rabbani,
           Chairman of the Afghanistan High Peace Council, emphasizing the importance of all
           states with relevant information extending to the Afghan authorities the assistance
           they may need and all relevant information they may possess pertaining to this
           terrorist attack, stressing the need for calm and solidarity in Afghanistan at this time
           and for all parties to reduce tensions, 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 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,
                 Stressing the importance of a comprehensive political process in Afghanistan
           to support reconciliation for all those who are prepared to meet the conditions for
           reconciliation in the 20 July 2010 Kabul Communiqué 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 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,




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                     Welcoming the settlement of the institutional impasse after the decision to
               leave the Independent Electoral Commission with the final authority in electoral
               questions, reiterating the Afghan Government’s commitment in the Kabul
               Conference communiqué to address long-term electoral reform, based on lessons
               learned in previous elections, including the 2010 parliamentary elections, and
               reaffirming that Afghanistan’s peaceful future lies in the building of a stable, secure,
               economically self-sufficient state, free of terrorism and narcotics, based on
               strengthened democratic institutions, respect for the separation of powers,
               reinforced constitutional checks and balances and the guarantee and enforcement of
               citizens’ rights and obligations,
                    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,
                     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 resolution 1386 (2001) and 1510 (2003), for
               a period of twelve months until 13 October 2012;
                   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 lead security responsibility in Afghanistan
               to the Afghan Government country-wide by the end of 2014 and the start of the
               transition process in 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 and stability in Afghanistan;



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                 4.    Welcomes the Enduring Partnership Declaration agreed by NATO and the
           Government of Afghanistan at the Lisbon Summit in November 2010, 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;
                 5.   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 stresses
           the importance of supporting the planned expansion of the Afghan National Army
           and the Afghan National Police;
                6.    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 1974 (2011) as well as with the OEF coalition in the
           implementation of the ISAF mandate;
                 7.   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;
                8.    Decides to remain actively seized of this matter.




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