               United Nations                                                                   S/RES/1943 (2010)
               Security Council                                                 Distr.: General
                                                                                13 October 2010




               Resolution 1943 (2010)
               Adopted by the Security Council at its 6395th meeting, on
               13 October 2010

                    The Security Council,
                     Reaffirming its previous resolutions on Afghanistan, in particular its
               resolutions 1386 (2001), 1510 (2003), 1833 (2008), 1890 (2009) and 1917 (2010),
                     Reaffirming also its resolutions 1267 (1999), 1368 (2001), 1373 (2001), 1822
               (2008) and 1904 (2009), 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) and 1889 (2009) on women and peace and
               security, and its resolutions 1612 (2005) and 1882 (2009) 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 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,
                     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
               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


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               the Afghan Government’s commitment to strengthen measures to combat corruption
               after the London and Kabul Conferences,
                     Recognizing the commitment by the international community to support the
               phased transition to full Afghan responsibility for security including through the
               establishment of the Joint Afghan NATO Inteqal “Transition” Board to determine
               mutually agreed criteria to commence the Transition process, and the imperative for
               the international community to continue to train, mentor and partner with the
               Afghan National Security Forces in order to support the international and Afghan
               objective for Afghan National Security Forces leadership on military and civilian
               police operations by the end of 2014, noting that these issues will be discussed at
               the forthcoming NATO Summit in Lisbon, and stressing the long-term commitment
               of the international community to support the further development and
               professionalization of the ANSF,
                     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,
                     Expressing its strong concern about the security situation in Afghanistan, in
               particular the increased violent and terrorist activities by the Taliban, Al-Qaida,
               other illegal armed groups and criminals, including 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, 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, 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 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,




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                 Condemning in the strongest terms all attacks, including improvised explosive
           device (IED) attacks, suicide attacks, assassinations 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, Al-Qaida and other extremist groups of
           civilians as human shields,
                 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 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 increased high number of civilian
           casualties in Afghanistan, in particular women and children casualties, the large
           majority of which are caused by Taliban, Al-Qaida and other extremist groups,
           reaffirming that all parties to armed conflict must take all feasible steps to ensure
           the protection of affected civilians, 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,
                 Taking note of the progress made by ISAF and other international forces in
           minimizing the civilian casualties, as described in the August 2010 UNAMA report
           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 the killing and maiming of children as a result of the
           conflict, welcoming the establishment of the Afghan Inter-Ministerial Steering
           Committee on Children and the Afghan Government’s intention to develop an action
           plan on the prevention of recruitment of children under 18 years of age, and the
           appointment of the focal point by the Ministry of the Interior dealing with child
           protection issues,
                 Acknowledging the progress made in security sector reform, 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 North Atlantic
           Treaty Organization (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 stressing the need for Afghanistan together with
           international donors to further strengthen the Afghan National Army and the Afghan



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               National Police to ensure Afghan capability to assume increasing responsibilities
               and leadership of security operations and maintain public order, law enforcement,
               the security of Afghanistan’s borders and the preservation of the constitutional
               rights of the Afghan citizens as well as to increase its efforts in disbandment of
               illegal armed groups and counter-narcotics, 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 requested by participants at the Consultative Peace
               Jirga held in Kabul in June 2010 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, and encouraging the
               Afghan Government-led peace process, in particular the implementation of the
               Afghan Peace and Reintegration Program, within the framework of the Afghan
               Constitution and with full respect for the implementation of measures and
               application of the procedures introduced by the Security Council in its resolutions
               1267 (1999), 1822 (2008) and 1904 (2009) as well as other relevant resolutions of
               the Council, and pledging to continue supporting this work as requested by the
               Afghan Government,
                     Noting the leading role played by the Afghan Independent Election
               Commission and the Electoral Complaints Commission in organizing the 2010
               parliamentary elections, and the support of the United Nations and ISAF, and the
               Afghan Government’s commitment in the Kabul Conference communiqué to address
               long-term electoral reform, based on lessons learned in previous elections,
                     Recognizing the importance of the contribution of neighbouring and regional
               partners as well as regional organizations including EU, OSCE, Shanghai
               Cooperation Organization and the CSTO 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
               the regional efforts in this regard, and looking forward to the inaugural meeting in
               November 2010 in Istanbul of the Core Group established in support of enhanced
               regional cooperation in conjunction with the Kabul Conference,
                     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 the continued coordination between ISAF and the OEF coalition,
               and in-theatre cooperation established between ISAF and the European Union
               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



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           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 until 13 October 2011;
               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;
                 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, 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 as endorsed by the Joint Coordination and
           Monitoring Board in January 2010;
                5.    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 1917 (2010) as well as with the OEF coalition in the
           implementation of the ISAF mandate;
                 6.   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;
                7.   Decides to remain actively seized of this matter.




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