Phil Hogan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael)
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Question 132: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will report on the situation in Afghanistan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7621/05]

Gay Mitchell (Dublin South Central, Fine Gael)
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Question 147: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will report on the levels of activity of the Taliban in Afghanistan and surrounding countries; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7619/05]

Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 132 and 147 together.

On 10 January 2005 Mr. Jean Arnault, the Special Representative of the Secretary General of the United Nations, UNSRSG, for Afghanistan reported to the UN Security Council. The Special Representative said that the security situation in Afghanistan had shown signs of improvement in recent weeks. He cautioned, however, that the international community should not become complacent and pointed out that such progress is predicated on a continuing high level of international military, political and economic assistance to Afghanistan.

Events in recent weeks demonstrate that the security situation remains volatile. On 20 January 2005 a suicide bomber carried out an assassination attempt on General Rashid Dostum, the Uzbek leader who was a candidate in last year's presidential election and was recently appointed chief of staff to the commander of the armed forces. The Taliban are reported to have claimed responsibility for the attack. Taliban rebels are also reported to have killed nine Afghan soldiers in an ambush in the southern Helmand province on 24 February 2005.

Such attacks indicate that Taliban militia members are still active in Afghanistan and most probably the surrounding countries. The Afghan authorities supported by the international security forces and with the cooperation of the Pakistani Government remain committed to tackling the insurgency movement. President Karzai has declared his commitment to a national reconciliation process which would see the reintegration into society of Taliban officials who are not included on lists of wanted militants. Recent media reports indicate that the Afghan Government has held talks with Taliban members in this regard. However, these reports have been challenged by Taliban hardliners who are reported to have vowed to continue their struggle.

These events point to the need for the international community to remain focused on supporting Afghanistan. The decision of the UN Security Council on 17 September 2004 to extend the mandate of the NATO led International Security Assistance Force in Afghanistan, ISAF, for a further 12 month period beyond 13 October 2004 was an important development in this regard. The decision taken by NATO earlier this month to expand the ISAF presence to include western Afghanistan is also to be welcomed.

In order to ensure a secure environment in Afghanistan it is important that all irregular forces are disarmed and demobilised or integrated into the national army. The disarmament, demobilisation and reintegration process, DDR, has gained momentum in recent weeks and almost 40,000 militiamen have now been disarmed. If this momentum is maintained it is hoped that the disarmament and demobilisation of the Afghan militia forces or at least those who are ready to voluntarily disarm will be completed by June 2005, which is within the timeframe established by the Berlin conference last year. Reintegration activities for demobilised militia would then be expected to continue to 2006. I welcome progress made to date and strongly urge all concerned to make a full commitment to the completion of the DDR process.

The publication of a report on transitional justice by the Afghan independent human rights commission, AIHRC, on 29 January 2005 is a further positive development in Afghanistan. I welcome this report and encourage the Afghan authorities to develop a strategy in keeping with the wishes of the Afghan people as set out in the report to address issues of transitional justice.

Looking ahead, the coming year will be an important one for Afghanistan. The parliamentary and provincial elections due to take place later this year represent the final step in the implementation of the Bonn Agreement of December 2001 on arrangements for the re-establishment of permanent government institutions in Afghanistan. The independent electoral commission, IEC, appointed by President Karzai on 19 January 2005 is expected to decide on the date of the elections shortly. These elections will undoubtedly present a considerable political and logistical challenge. It is important that the international community remain engaged in this process.

The House will be aware of the grave problems that flow from the resurgence of poppy cultivation in Afghanistan. The opium economy is equivalent to 60% of Afghanistan's GDP and accounts for 56% of cultivated land. Afghanistan is now the largest drug cultivating country in the world. President Karzai has identified counter narcotics as a priority for the Afghan Government and has introduced a number of important initiatives in this regard. These include a national counter narcotics implementation plan, the appointment of a Minister for counter narcotics, the creation of a cabinet sub-committee on counter narcotics and the establishment of a counter narcotics trust fund which will be jointly administered by the Afghan Ministry of Finance and the UN Development Programme, UNDP.

The Government together with our EU partners fully supports the Afghan authorities' uncompromising stance on the illicit cultivation of and trafficking in drugs. Over the past three years Ireland has contributed €500,000 per annum to the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, UNODC, €300,000 per annum of which has been channelled into counter narcotics projects in the region. Consideration is being given to a substantial increase in our support for the programmes being carried out by UNODC, including in Afghanistan, in 2005.

Afghanistan will continue to face many serious challenges in the period ahead and will therefore continue to need extensive support from the international community. Ireland together with our partners in the European Union are determined to continue to play our part in this process.