U.N. extends ISAF mandate for 12th year

UNITED NATIONS, Oct. 12 (UPI) -- The U.N. Security Council Wednesday extended the International Security Assistance Force in Afghanistan's mandate for a 12th year with an eye to an end by 2014.

In its unanimous resolution, the Security Council welcomed the agreement between Afghanistan and troop-contributing states "to gradually transfer key security responsibilities to the Afghan government by the end of 2014," the United Nations said in a statement.

The council urged U.N. member states "to contribute personnel, equipment and other resources to ISAF, and to continue to support security and stability in Afghanistan," the statement said, lauding the Enduring Partnership Declaration signed by the Afghan government and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization last year in Lisbon, Portugal.

The Security Council expressed "serious concern" over Afghan security and threats posed by the Taliban and al-Qaida.

All U.S. combat troops are scheduled to leave Afghanistan by the end of 2014.