UN General Assembly strongly condemns terrorist violence in Afghanistan

By JERUSALEM POST STAFF
The UN General Assembly on Monday strongly condemned the increasing violence and terrorist activity by the Taliban, al-Qaida and other extremist groups in Afghanistan and called for stepped-up efforts to to help the nation build a stable future after two decades of war. A resolution, adopted by consensus and cosponsored by over 100 countries, stressed "the urgent need" to tackle the upsurge in violent criminal and terrorist activities - including by those involved in the narcotics trade, which has had an upsurge in opium poppy production this year. It also backed the Afghanistan Compact, a five-year blueprint adopted by the Afghan government and the international community in January 2006 to help the rebuild the country's government institutions and promote the rule of law, human rights and national reconciliation. While the resolution is not legally binding, its support by the 192-member General Assembly was a reflection of the strong international backing for Afghanistan at a difficult time.