'Nightmare of fratricidal conflict' reported as refugee numbers swell.

In urging all Afghan leaders to "heed the overwhelming desire for peace" expressed by their people and to cooperate with the UN Special Mission in a search for a "lasting cease-fire and a fully representative political process", Secretary-General Boutros Boutros-Ghali on 7 September affirmed UN readiness to assist Afghanistan to "emerge from the long nightmare of fratricidal conflict and to curb unwarranted foreign interference" in its internal affairs.

In a statement following his meeting with representatives of Afghan parties and independent personalities, the Secretary-General--while on an official visit to Pakistan--also called for a moratorium on the shelling of Kabul and the opening of roads to permit resumption of delivery of urgently needed humanitarian supplies.

"The continuing hostilities and carnage in Afghanistan, long after the establishment of the Islamic State, are a matter of grave concern to me and the international community as a whole", he said. To address that concern, a UN Special Mission to Afghanistan--headed by Ambassador Mahmoud Mestiri of Tunisia--had been set up early in 1994. Regrettably, efforts to convene a joint meeting of the warring factions and leaders of the neutral parties had so far been unsuccessful, Mr. Boutros-Ghali stated. Consequently, Mr. Mestiri wanted to convene a meeting of a broad-based group of Afghan leaders, including those from outside the country, "in the hope of breaking the deadlock".

It was reported that the number of displaced people in Afghanistan had risen to 1 million since intense fighting had resumed in Kabul in January. Urging the world community to "assist Afghans in rebuilding their shattered country", the Security Council, in an 11 August statement, called on all States to take the necessary steps to promote peace in Afghanistan, stop the flow of weapons to the parties, and "put an end to this destructive conflict".

The Council also welcomed the recommendations (S/1994/766) of the Special Mission concerning the re-establishment of a UN physical political presence inside Afghanistan and setting up a working group to assist the UN peace efforts and preparations for an international conference on Afghanistan.

The Council deplored the continuing civil war which had "brought death and destruction" to the Afghans and created a "threat to the stability and security of other countries in the region".