Political solution for situation relating to Afghanistan urged.

Political solution for situation relating to Afghanistan urged

The immediate withdrawal of the foreign troops from Afghanistan has again been called for by the General Assembly. All parties concerned were asked to work for the "urgent achievement of a political solution" and the creation of conditions to enable the Afghan refugees to return volunvation of Afghanistan's sovereignty, territorial integrity, political independence and non-aligned character was essential for a peaceful solution of the problem.

The right of the Afghan people to determine their own form of government and to choose their economic, political and social system "free from outside intervention, subversion, coercion or constraint of any kind whatsoever" was reaffirmed.

The Secretary-General, in reporting (A/42/600-S/19160) on the situation relating to Afghanistan, pointed out that the negotiating process towards the achievement of a comprehensive settlement had reached an advanced stage. "Substantial though not sufficiently sustained" progress had been made in the past year in efforts to conclude the international instruments that would comprise the settlement, he stated.

The world body noted the "increasing concern of the international community over the continued and serious sufferings of the Afghan people and over the magnitude of social and economic problems posed to Pakistan and Iran by the presence on their soil of millions of Afghan refugees, and the continuing increase in their numbers". It renewed its appeal for humanitarian relief assistance with a view to "alleviating the hardship of the Afghan refugees" in co-ordination with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees.

Finally, it expressed support for the efforts and constructive steps taken by Secretary-General Javier Perez de Cuellar, especially the diplomatic process initiated by him, in the search for a solution to the problem. The Secretary-General was asked to continue those efforts with a view to promoting a political solution, "and the exploration of securing appropriate guarantees the non-use of force, or threat of force, against the political independence, sovereignty, territorial integrity and security of all neighbouring States, on the basis of mutual guarantees and strict noninterference in each other's internal affairs and with full regard for the principles of the Charter of the United Nations".

Zain Noorani, Minister of State for Foreign Affairs of Pakistan, said the only sanction...