UN peacekeeping chief: International community should allow Afghans to take charge of future

UN calls for Afghans to take charge of future

UNITED NATIONS — The U.N. peacekeeping chief says it’s time for the international community to take “concrete steps” to allow Afghans to take charge of their future — and to ensure that “Afghanization” becomes more than a slogan.

Alain Le Roy told the Security Council on Thursday that the Afghan government is “legitimately eager” to lead and the international community risks failure in its goals for the country if this doesn’t happen.

He said Afghan “ownership” must take place on both the military and civilian side, with the international community in support.

Afghanistan’s U.N. Ambassador Zahir Tanin told the council the government has taken up the leadership challenge and in the coming year its priority will be “Afghanization” in every area.