Council expresses 'utmost concern' over wide-scale fighting in Kabul.

Security Council members, in a 12 August statement, expressed "utmost concern" over the wide-scale fighting which had broken out in Afganistan's capital city of Kabul, resulting in heavy loss of life and property, "including to foreign missions and their personnel".

Council members urged the Afgan Government to "take every measure to ensure the safety and security of all diplomatic and international missions", and called upon all those involved to cease the hostilities and establish the necessary conditions for the safe evacuation of foreign personnel.

On 10 August, Secretary-General Boutros Boutros-Ghali noted with concern that fighting in Kabul had intensified in recent days and was extracting a high toll in lives and property. "It is highly regrettable that after 4 years of war in that devastated country, the people of Afghanistan are still experiencing death, destruction and suffering", he said.

Mr. Boutros-Ghali called upon all parties involved to exercise restraint. They must lay down their arms and begin a dialogue at once to bring peace and security to their war-torn country. If the UN was to continue its humanitarian and other operations in Afghanistan, the safety and protection of UN personnel, property and premises should be assured. Governments of neighbouring countries and concerned regional organizations should use their influence in helping to end "this tragedy", he added.

In a 14 August statement, the Secretary-General noted that the fighting had escaled even further, with heavy loss of life among the unarmed civilian population. He again appealed for maximum restraint and for a dialogue that would lead to a peaceful solution

On 25 September, the foreign ministers of the Council's five permanent members supported the Secretary-General's efforts in securing a peaceful transition of power in Afghanistan. The support was voiced by Qian Qichen of China, Roland Dumas of France, Andrei V. Kozyrev of the Russian Federation, Sir David Hannay of the United Kingdom (representing Foreign Secretary Douglas Hurd) and Lawrence S. Eagleburger, Acting Secretary of State of the United States, in a statement issued following a meeting with Mr. Boutros-Ghali.

Afghanistan President Burhanuddin Rabbani asked Mr. Boutros-Ghali to mobilize international humanitarian assistance for the Afghan people. The Secretary-General said a UN inter-agency team was assessing additional requirements for assistance.

On 7 August, Sotirios G. Mousouris was named as the Special Representative of the Secretary-General in Afghanistan and Pakistan, succeeding Benon Sevan.

Refugee repatriation:

In record numbers

The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) announced on 15 July in Geneva that a record number of Afghans had recently returned home from Pakistan as part of the largest and fastest UNHCR-assisted repatriation programme.

In the week ending 12 July, some 100,000 Afghans crossed the border from Pakistan at a rate of 15,000 a day, bringing to nearly 600,000 the number of Afghans returning home since the beginning of 1992, it was announced. According to UNHCR, "the mad rush to the border triggered by the fall of the Najibullah government in late April shows no sign of abating despite a severe shortage of funds of help the Afghan returnees start a new life in their war-torn country."