A/RES/49/140 Page 2 Welcoming the appointment by the Secretary-General of Mahmoud Mestiri to head the United Nations special mission to Afghanistan, and expressing its appreciation for the efforts of the special mission towards the restoration of peace, normalcy and national rapprochement and the objective of reconstruction and rehabilitation of war-stricken Afghanistan, Expressing its support for the continuing efforts of the special mission, particularly the initial steps taken by that mission to begin a political process in which all segments of Afghan society are represented, Appreciating the efforts of the Organization of the Islamic Conference and other international organizations in support of the special mission, Noting with mounting concern the prolongation of armed hostilities among the factions in the country, including indiscriminate attacks on civilians and other violations of international humanitarian law, including those imposing starvation on the civilian population, which have caused significant civilian casualties, displaced populations and destruction of the economic and social infrastructure of the country, in spite of repeated calls by the Security Council and the Secretary-General for a cessation of hostilities, Deeply concerned about the problem of millions of anti-personnel landmines in Afghanistan, which continue to prevent many Afghan refugees from returning to their villages and from working in their fields, Bearing in mind the close interrelationship between the revitalization of the economy and the strengthening of the ability of Afghanistan to take effective steps towards those objectives and the ensuring of peace and normalcy in the country, Stressing the importance of the rehabilitation and reconstruction of Afghanistan for the prosperity of its people, who have suffered many hardships during fifteen years of war and devastation and who have lost the opportunity for development throughout the conflict, Aware that Afghanistan continues to suffer from an extremely critical economic situation as a land-locked, least developed and war-stricken country, Welcoming with appreciation the efforts of the Secretary-General to draw the attention of the international community to the acute problems of reconstruction in Afghanistan, Affirming the urgent need to initiate international action to assist Afghanistan in restoring basic services and the infrastructure of the country, and welcoming the efforts of the United Nations Development Programme in this respect, Appreciating the assistance of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees in its continuing support for the repatriation of Afghan refugees from neighbouring countries, Thanking all Governments that have rendered assistance to Afghan refugees, in particular the Governments of Pakistan and the Islamic Republic of Iran, and recognizing the need for international assistance for the voluntary repatriation and resettlement of refugees and internally displaced persons, /...