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United Nations Good Offices Mission in Afghanistan and Pakistan (UNGOMAP) was established in May 1988, during theSoviet–Afghan War, to assist in ensuring the implementation of theagreements on the settlement of the situation relating to Afghanistan and investigate and report possible violations of any of the provisions of the agreements. TheUnited Nations Security Council confirmed its establishment inResolution 622 (1988).
By 15 August 1988, theSoviet military withdrew nearly 50 percent of its troops (some 50,000 men) fromAfghanistan, evacuating 10 maingarrisons and handing them over to theAfghan armed forces. Another 8 garrisons remained under Soviet control until the end of the pullout on 15 February 1989.
UNGOMAP received numerous complaints from bothAfghanistan andPakistan of alleged violations of theGeneva Accords. Afghanistan alleged political activities andpropaganda hostile to theGovernment of Afghanistan taking place inPakistan, border crossings of men andmateriel from Pakistan to Afghanistan, cross-border firings, acts ofsabotage, rocket attacks on major urban centres, violations of Afghan airspace by Pakistan aircraft, the continued presence in Pakistan of training camps and arms depots for Afghan opposition groups, and direct involvement by Pakistan military personnel inside Afghanistan, as well as restrictions placed onrefugees who wished to return to Afghanistan. Pakistan's complaints included allegations of political activities and propaganda hostile to the Government of Pakistan, bombings and violations of its airspace by Afghan aircraft, acts of sabotage and cross-border firings, including the use ofSCUDmissiles against Pakistan territory.
UNGOMAP made every effort to investigate complaints lodged by the two parties. However, a number of difficulties hampered the effectiveness of the work of the Mission's inspection teams. These included the rough nature of the terrain, the time which lapsed before many of the alleged incidents were reported, and the security conditions prevailing in the area of operation.
UNGOMAP also maintained close cooperation with theUnited Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR). In particular, it was ready to monitor the situation inside Afghanistan and inform UNHCR of the safety conditions necessary for the return and resettlement ofrefugees. Up to 5 million refugees were estimated to be living in Pakistan andIran. However, because the fighting in Afghanistan continued, conditions remained unstable and only a limited number of refugees returned to Afghanistan.
UNGOMAP's mandate formally ended on 15 March 1990.
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