The year in review-Asia and the Pacific

The United Nations Military Observer Group in India and Pakistan (UNMOGIP) continued to monitor the ceasefire along the line of control between the two countries in the State of Jammu and Kashmir.

And in East Timor, the United Nations Transitional Administration in East Timor (UNTAET) made considerable progress in assisting the territory in its transition to self-government. Following the 30 August 2001 election of a Constituent Assembly to draft a Constitution for an independent and democratic East Timor, the territory entered the final transition phase towards independence, which is expected to be declared on 20 May 2002.

In Tajikistan, the United Nations Office of Peace-building provided a political framework and leadership for a variety of peace-building activities and helped mobilize international support for programmes to employ and train former irregular fighters as part of their reintegration into civilian life.

In the Pacific, a peaceful settlement of the conflict in Bougainville came about following talks between the Government of Papua New Guinea and the Bougainville parties facilitated by the UN Political Office there.

The current crisis in Afghanistan in the wake of the 11 September terrorist attacks on the United States presented the UN with unprecedented political and humanitarian challenges. On 3 October, the Secretary-General reappointed Lakhdar Brahimi as his Special Representative for Afghanistan. Mr. Brahimi is supported by two existing offices: the UN Special Mission to Afghanistan (UNSMA) and the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Assistance (UNOCHA). The United Nations is seeking to facilitate formation of an Afghan transitional administration leading to a broad-based, multi-ethnic and fully representative government and to help rebuild the country with the support of the international community.