United Nations: Warning that Taliban and al-Qaeda have been ousted but not vanquished in Afghanistan, India has urged the international community to confront terrorism, which threatens not only the country but also regional and international peace and security.

Participating in the annual debate on Afghanistan in the 191-member United Nations General Assembly today (Dec 9, 2004), Indian Ambassador Nirupam Sen pointed out the process of peace and stabilisation in Afghanistan is still fragile.

While no serious violent incidents took place on the day of election, Sen said that the upsurge in militant violence in the run-up to the polls and in the period since has revealed that terrorism perpetrated by the Taliban, al-Qaeda and Hizb-e-Islami elements continue to constitute the primary source of insecurity in Afghanistan.

"Their activities, with support from outside, have undermined reconstruction efforts, especially in the southern and south-eastern provinces," he said without naming anyone.

"Increasing attacks by terrorist elements continue to represent not only the greatest threat to Afghanistan's security and stability, but also a major threat to regional and international peace and security," he told the delegates.

In this context, Sen was critical of the report by UN Secretary General Kofi Annan, which highlights that the security in the South and South East has deteriorated but fails to mention the threat terrorism poses to Afghanistan and "conveys the impression that is no longer an issue of concern for Afghanistan, the United Nations or the international community."