U.N. Has Thai, Philippine Support Role in Afghanistan
By Kazi Mahmood
JAKARTA, Nov. 16 (IslamOnline) - Thailand and the Philippines have given full support for the United Nations to take a leading role in efforts to establish a new broad-based government in Afghanistan, sources said on Thursday.
In a statement released to the press, the Thai Foreign Ministry said regarding peace and security in Afghanistan that their country supports the establishment of a broad-based and multi-ethnic government, which the U.N. should take a leading role in establishing.
On the other hand, Armed Forces Chief of Staff General Diomedio Villanueva on Thursday said the Filipino government is ready to send a peacekeeping contingent to Afghanistan, if such troops are needed in the war-ravaged country.
Malaysia and Indonesia said they would wait before committing any troops to the U.N.'s peacekeeping force in Kabul. The two nations supported an end to the bombing of Afghanistan and blamed the U.S. for the killing of civilians in the country.
The Thai ministry also condemned all forms of terrorism and said Thailand was determined to work actively with the world community to combat terrorism.
Thailand supported all actions against terrorism under the framework of the U.N. and on the basis of the relevant resolutions of the U.N. Security Council and General Assembly, the statement said.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra will formally hand over 3,000 tones of rice in humanitarian aid to Afghanistan on Friday to John Powell, the country director of the World Food Program.
The United Nations Security Council will shortly decide if peacekeeping forces are needed in Afghanistan; after the opposition Northern Alliance captured the capital, Kabul, and drove away the Taliban earlier this week.
Villanueva said sending peacekeeping troops to a foreign country does not require Congressional approval.
The Philippines sent a peacekeeping mission to East Timor in 1999.
