Long-term support for Afghanistan’s socio-economic development will be vital as the country proceeds on its path towards assuming full responsibility for its security, governance and development. This was stated by the top UN officials during the United Nations Security Council meeting yesterday.

Presenting the UN Secretary-General’s latest report on Afghanistan to the Council, the Under-Secretary-General for Peacekeeping Operations, Hervé Ladsous, said that significant progress on Afghanistan had been made during two international conferences in Kabul and Chicago, and the same is expected next month in Tokyo. 

In his report on Afghanistan, Secretary General Ban Ki-moon states that the Tokyo conference must deliver a clear message that Afghanistan will not be abandoned in its development and social needs. He also said that tangible commitments are required regarding long-term support to Afghanistan and its national priority programmes.

Focussing on the narcotics aspect, the Executive Director of the UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) Yury Fedotov, said there are many challenges in Afghanistan, but illicit drugs and crime are capable of undermining attempts to promote economic and social development in the country. He said everything possible must bo done to eradicate this menace. AIR correspondent adds that the UN Security Council’s meeting shows genuine concerns of the world organization regarding Afghanistan.

The UN Security Council’s meeting comes ahead of the international conference on Afghanistan to be held in Tokyo next month. The concerns of the world community regarding Afghanistan’s security after 2014 have already been addressed by the Chicago conference which committed itself to help Afghan security forces even after the departure of the international troops from the country.

But security alone may not bring lasting peace and stability to Afghanistan. It is equally important to see the same level of commitment to socio-economic development of the country. The Istanbul and the Kabul conferences were good initiatives of the international community to help Afghanistan in socio-economic sectors. It is hoped that Afghanistan’s international partners will make some tangible commitments in this regard durining the forthcoming Tokyo conference.

or an on ground review of the on going developmental projects coming up with India’s support and to hand over the development assistance to the war affected, the Indian High Commissioner Ashok K. Kantha extensively toured the three districts of Trincomalee, Batticalao and Ampara in the Eastern Province of Sri Lanka.  He also held wide ranging discussions with various stakeholders to assess the impact of these projects on the ground and understand local priorities and requirements in order to further expand India’s development assistance. Along with Sivenesathurai Santhirakanthan ,the Chief Minister of the Eastern Province, Mr Ashok K Kantha inaugurated a Vocational Training Centre set up under Indian assistance of 76 million Sri Lankan rupees. The Training Centre will train persons for repair of outboard motors, tractors, agricultural implements, two-wheelers and three-wheelers. In April, during the visit of the Parliamentary delegation from India, another Vocational Training Centre in Vantharamullai (Batticaloa) with a total assistance of SLR 250 million had been handed over. Mr.Kantha also handed over a total of 15 auto rickshaws to war-affected women in two separate events at Valachennai (Batticaloa) and Akaraipattu (Ampara). During the event at Valachennai, the Chief Minister handed over certificates to 40 Master trainers under an Indian assisted project for training of war-affected women in various vocational skills for self-employment being implemented through SEWA. These Master trainers have undergone extensive training in India and will be imparting skills training in seven vocational trades to another 800 grassroot trainers in Eastern Province.  The Project, which would continue till February 2014, is expected to make a significant impact towards empowerment of war-affected women in Eastern Province. Mr.Kantha discussed implementation of the Housing Project, which would involve construction of about 4,000 houses in the Eastern Province, with various stakeholders, including potential beneficiary communities, a High Commission release said.

Stating that Indo-Pak relations have direct bearing on the peace and development of J&K State, ,J&K Chief Minister, Omar Abdullah on Tuesday expressed the hope that the restoration of dialogue process between the two countries would be carried to the logical end. Addressing a public gathering at Darhal, in border district of Rajouri in Jammu division, Omar said that the peace is pre-requisite for economic prosperity and all round development of the State. He said that while his Government is facilitating addressing of the political issues of J&K with focussed attention, it is at the same time whole heartedly involved in the resolution of day to day problems of the people making justice and equitable development benchmark of governance. Omar said that history is witness to the path breaking and innovative initiatives taken by the coalition Government in the State on the political and developmental fronts to restore peace and march ahead on road to prosperity. including on the issue of corruption, the Chief Minister said that during the PDP dispensation, the party did nothing solid to address the menace of corruption.