Soviet troop withdrawal from Afghanistan completed on time on 15 February 1989; violations of accords alleged by both sides.

The total withdrawal of all Soviet troops from Afghanistan was completed on 15 February 1989, in compliance with the terms of the Geneva Accords signed 10 months earlier. The United Nations Good Offices Mission in Afghanistan and Pakistan (UNGOMAP) reported (S/20465) its satisfaction at the "scrupulous manner" in which the time-frame for withdrawal had been observed.

By 11 March, the Soviet Union had complained that the Geneva Accords were "being flagrantly trampled upon" by those "contributing to the continuation of inter-Afghan strife". It said a "senseless fratricidal war" was intensifying within the country, despite efforts to work out mutually acceptable compromises between the legitimate Government of Afghanistan and the opposition.

Afghanistan and Pakistan, in the Accords of 14 April 1988, signed three instruments-on principles of mutual relations, in particular noninterference and non-intervention, on the voluntary return of refugees, and on interrelationships for the settlement, which provided for phased withdrawal of foreign troops to begin on 15 May. The United States and the USSR also signed a declaration on international guarantees, stating they would both refrain from any form of interference and intervention".

In the first three-month period, it was reported that some 50,183 foreign troops had withdrawn. Another 50,100 left between 15 August 1988 and 15 February 1989. UNGOMAP monitored the withdrawals in accordance with its mandate.

UN Secretary-General Javier Perez de Cuellar, in a note accompanying the 15 February UNGOMAP report, said it was imperative to move forward to ensure the full and faithful implementation of all obligations under the Accords, "all provisions of which were to be implemented in an integrated manner". The Mission would continue to discharge its mandate to that end, he stressed.

The major aim of the Accords, he said, was to bring about conditions to allow Afghans fully to exercise their right of self-determination. External aspects of the situation relating to Afghanistan needed to be fully resolved and conditions established to enable Afghans to decide their own future and to achieve peace and stability in their homeland.

The next steps to be taken in that context must be decided upon by the Afghans themselves, he said. The world community's attention would increasingly focus on the Afghans' efforts towards establishing a broad-based government, which would open the way for a vast and effective process of reconstruction and development.

Positions

On 10 March, President Najibullah of Afghanistan complained to the UN of a "dangerous situation" taking shape around his country, as a result of what he called "the irresponsible policy of the Government of Pakistan, aimed at the continuation of bloodshed and intensification of military interference and intervention in the internal affairs of Afghanistan"

He asked the Secretary-General to instruct mobile groups of UNGOMAP to monitor the situation and prepare reports on the implementation of the Accords. Immediate measures were essential, he said, and the Secretary-General could play an important role in defusing the tense situation.

On 22 March, President Najibullah asked for permanent United Nations observer posts in specified locations along the Afghanistan-Pakistan border.

Responding on 20 March (S/20538-A/44/184), Pakistan Foreign Minister Sahabzada Yaqub Khan told the Secretary-General that the Afghanistan allegations were unsubstantiated. Pakistani troops were not concentrated in the border areas. The Kabul regime wanted to "camouflage its rejection by the people of Afghanistan". UNGOMAP should investigate such charges, and so far none had been substantiated. Pakistan had been subjected to "acts of terrorism and aggression" since the signing of the Accords. The only way to bring an early end to the bloodshed and suffering was through a peaceful transfer of power to representatives of the Afghan people.

On 29 March, the USSR called for a UN investigation of violations of the Geneva Accords by UNGOMAP. It alleged that Pakistan had disregarded obligations under the Accords by supporting mercenaries, attempting to disorganize the Afghan economy, and sending military personnel to take part in hostilities between Afghan tribal units.

The USSR wanted the UN Secretary-General to meet regularly with representatives of Afghanistan and Pakistan on alleged violations and seek mutually acceptable solutions.

On 27 February, Pakistan, in a letter SI20482) to the President of the Security Council, said it welcomed the total withdrawal of Soviet troops from Afghanistan which vindicated not only the heroic struggle of the people of Afghanistan, but also the principled policy pursued by an overwhelming majority of the international community in support of the Afghan cause".

Pakistan denied it had prevented the return of Afghan refugees, who it said were reluctant to return because of indiscriminate mining of the countryside by the Kabul regime, which had been rejected by the Afghan people and held fully responsible for their sufferings.

Attempts by the Kabul regime now to involve the Security Council were meant to divert international attention from its own "illegitimate and unrepresentative character".

On 17 February, Soviet Ambassador to the United Nations Aleksandr Belonogov-told correspondents in New York that the role of the United States and the Soviet Union as co-guarantors of the Accords should not be limited to that of passive observers. They were obligated to contribute actively to the full implementation of the Accords. The UN, especially the Secretary-General and the Security Council, needed to be more actively involved in facilitating a peaceful solution to the Afghan problem.

Concern

On 1 February, Mr. Perez de Cuellar had expressed concern over the "recent escalation" of fighting in Afghanistan, which had continued to cause heavy loss of human life and further devastation. He appealed to all to exercise restraint and to give peace a chance.

He also called on the international community to provide adequate financial and material resources for the speedy repatriation and rehabilitation of Afghan refugees and the economic and social reconstruction of Afghanistan. The United Nations would continue to play its part in seeking to meet this challenge, he said.

On 16 February in New York, the Secretar-y-General told correspondents that he hoped that "things will evolve in a manner in which a great national reconciliation will take place in Afghanistan".

On the same day, the USSR wrote to Mr. Perez de Cuellar (S/20472) that the problems confronting Afghans could be solved "at the negotiating table", and the USSR would continue to promote a "peaceful and comprehensive Afghan settlement".

On 15 February, Afghanistan wrote to the President of the Security Council SI20469) asking him and the Council to review the process of implementation of the Geneva Accords.

Pakistan and the Soviet Union, after talks on 5 and 6 February, reported to the Secretary-General (SI20461) that they agreed that every effort should be made to promote a political settlement in Afghanistan, in order to bring peace and tranquillity to the Afghan people and to end the protracted conflict. A military path could only lead to a worsening of the situation, resulting in further loss of life and destruction. A political settlement was the only way to prevent that, they said.

They intended, they said, to encourage the establishment of a broad-based government through the efforts of the Afghans themselves, and which would reflect the right to determine their own future and their political and economic institutions, without any outside interference. Conditions had to be created to enable all refugees, most of whom were in Pakistan, to return to their homes in safety and to live in peace. Satisfaction was expressed with the UN programme of economic and humanitarian assistance.

Humanitarian aid 

On 12 February in Islamabad, Sadruddin Aga Khan, Co-ordinator for United Nations Humanitarian and Economic Assistance Programmes relating to Afghanistan, said UN assistance would be available to all Afghans in need, wherever they were. While he expected the current emergency to last for a while, it was important to prepare for the repatriation phase.

If refugees and the displaced were to return to their habitual residences and discover no life support system, food or shelter, they might be compelled to leave again or move around inside Afghanistan. Such a situation would create further disruption and would have a serious destabilizing effect in general, and for the United Nations programme in particular.

Most Afghan leaders and refugees, he said, had indicated they did not wish to return to Afghanistan until they could be assured of food security as well as security from mines and bombings. They also said they wanted a government to which they could relate, and which represented their hopes and aspirations.