Afghanistan is "at a crossroads" between national sovereignty and continuing conflict

KABUL - As security transition to Afghan security forces is on track, the international community must reassure that it will not abandon Afghanistan, top UN envoy to Afghanistan said. Staffan de Mistura, UN special representative to Afghanistan, told the UN Security Council Afghans are worried that they will be forgotten by the world once again. "I know that's not our intention, certainly not of the UN," AP news agency quoted de Mistura as saying.
"I think from the international point of view we need to constantly reassure them that we'll help them to go through this transition in this difficult period," he told the UN Security Council.
US Ambassador Susan Rice to the United Nations said: "In the face of violence, terror and intimidation Afghans are defending their country, establishing local police forces, reopening markets and schools, and creating new opportunities for women and girls."
"We will continue to support them as they reclaim their country after decades of strife, long after our military mission has ended," Rice said.
De Mistura told the council that Afghanistan is "at a crossroads" between national sovereignty, continuing conflict and ongoing dialogue.
But at the moment there's "a cloud" because the legislative, the executive and the judiciary branches aren't working together, he said.
"We are hopeful and working ... to avoid an institutional crisis," he said.
US President Barack Obama will withdraw 33,000 troops from Afghanistan by the end of 2012 and the remaining 68,000 will gradually leave Afghanistan until the end of transition process in 2014, but based on the condition on the ground. (Tolo News)