               United Nations                                                                    S/RES/1833 (2008)
               Security Council                                                 Distr.: General
                                                                                22 September 2008




               Resolution 1833 (2008)
               Adopted by the Security Council at its 5977th meeting, on
               22 September 2008

                    The Security Council,
                     Reaffirming its previous resolutions on Afghanistan, in particular its
               resolutions 1386 (2001), 1510 (2003), 1776 (2007) and 1806 (2008),
                     Reaffirming also its resolutions 1267 (1999), 1368 (2001), 1373 (2001) and
               1822 (2008), 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) and 1738
               (2006) on the protection of civilians in armed conflict, its resolutions 1325 (2000)
               and 1820 (2008) on women and peace and security, and its resolution 1612 (2005)
               on children and armed conflict,
                     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 welcoming the cooperation of the Afghan
               Government with ISAF,
                     Recognizing once again the interconnected nature of the challenges in
               Afghanistan, reaffirming that sustainable progress on security, governance and
               development, as well as the cross-cutting issue of counter-narcotics is mutually
               reinforcing and welcoming the continuing efforts of the Afghan Government and the
               international community to address these challenges through a comprehensive
               approach,
                     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
               stressing the need for strengthened cooperation, coordination and mutual support,
               taking due account of their respective designated responsibilities,



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                     Expressing its strong concern about the security situation in Afghanistan, in
               particular the increased violent and terrorist activities by the Taliban, Al-Qaida,
               illegally armed groups, criminals and those involved in the narcotics trade, and the
               increasingly strong links between terrorism activities and illicit drugs, resulting in
               threats to the local population, including children, national security forces and
               international military and civilian personnel,
                    Encouraging ISAF to further, effectively support, within its designated
               responsibilities, Afghan-led sustained efforts to address, in cooperation with
               relevant international and regional actors, the threat posed by the illicit production
               of and trafficking in drugs,
                     Expressing also its concern over the harmful consequences of violent and
               terrorist activities by the Taliban, Al-Qaida and other 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 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 and abductions, targeting civilians
               and 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 and other extremist group of civilians as human shields,
                       Recognizing the increased threats posed by the Taliban, Al-Qaida and other
               extremist 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
               this context, noting relevant statements of Afghan authorities and high-ranking UN
               officials, as well as Press Statements of the President of the Security Council, in this
               regard, and calling for compliance with international humanitarian and human rights
               law and for all appropriate measures to be taken to ensure the protection of
               civilians,
                      Recognizing the efforts taken by ISAF and other international forces to
               minimize the risk of civilian casualties, and calling on them to take additional
               robust efforts in this regard, notably by the continuous review of tactics and
               procedures and the conduct of 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,
                      Stressing the need for further progress in security sector reform, including
               further strengthening of the Afghan National Army and in particular of the Afghan
               National Police, disbandment of illegal armed groups, justice sector reform and
               counter narcotics,
                      Stressing in this context the importance of further progress in the
               reconstruction and reform of the prison sector in Afghanistan, in order to improve
               the respect for the rule of law and human rights therein,




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                   Reiterating its call on all Afghan parties and groups to engage constructively
           in peaceful political dialogue within the framework of the Afghan Constitution and
           in the socio-economic development of the country and to avoid resorting to violence
           including through the use of illegal armed groups, and encouraging the
           implementation of Afghan-led reconciliation programmes within the framework of
           the Afghan Constitution and with full respect of the implementation of measures
           introduced by the Security Council in its resolution 1267 (1999) and other relevant
           resolutions of the Council,
                  Recalling the leading role that the Afghan Authorities will play for the
           organization of the next presidential elections, with the assistance of the United
           Nations, and stressing the importance of the assistance to be provided to the Afghan
           Authorities by ISAF in ensuring a secure environment conducive to the elections,
                  Recognizing the importance of the contribution of neighbouring and regional
           partners for the stabilization of Afghanistan, and stressing the crucial importance of
           advancing regional cooperation as an effective means to promote security,
           governance and development in Afghanistan,
                  Welcoming the continued coordination between ISAF and the OEF coalition,
           and the cooperation established between ISAF and the European Union presence in
           Afghanistan, in particular its police mission (EUPOL Afghanistan),
                  Expressing its appreciation for the leadership provided by the North Atlantic
           Treaty Organization (NATO), and for the contributions of many nations to ISAF and
           to the OEF coalition, including its maritime interdiction component, 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, as defined in resolution 1386 (2001) and 1510 (2003), for a period
           of twelve months beyond 13 October 2008;
               2.    Authorizes the Member States participating in ISAF to take all necessary
           measures to fulfil its mandate;
                 3.   Recognizes the need to further strengthen ISAF to meet all its operational
           requirements, and in this regard calls upon Member States to contribute personnel,
           equipment and other resources to ISAF, and to make contributions to the Trust Fund
           established pursuant to resolution 1386 (2001);
                 4.   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 and ethnically balanced
           Afghan security forces providing security and ensuring the rule of law throughout
           the country, welcomes in this context the progress achieved by the Afghan



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               Authorities in assuming lead security responsibility for Kabul, and stresses the
               importance of supporting the planned expansion of the Afghan National Army;
                    5.    Calls upon ISAF to continue to work in close consultation with the
               Afghan Government and the Special Representative of the Secretary-General as well
               as with the OEF coalition in the implementation of the force mandate;
                    6.    Requests the leadership of ISAF to keep the Security Council regularly
               informed, through the Secretary-General, on the implementation of its mandate,
               including through the provision of quarterly reports;
                    7.   Decides to remain actively seized of this matter.




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