The situation in Afghanistan A/RES/70/77 Supporting the ongoing Afghan-led regional effort within the framework of the Heart of Asia-Istanbul Process on Regional Security and Cooperatio n for a Secure and Stable Afghanistan aimed at fostering trust and confidence -building, strengthening regional efforts in promoting economic cooperation and integration in the region and improving security and greater people -to-people relations, Acknowledging that an Afghanistan firmly embedded in the economic life of the region and connected to international markets will enjoy greater opportunities for peace and stability, as will the entire region, and in this regard reiterating its support for Afghanistan’s ambition to use its geographic location to enhance and accelerate connectivity with neighbouring countries and to become an integrated trade, transportation and energy hub within the region, Welcoming the process by which Afghanistan and its regional and international partners are entering into long-term strategic partnerships and other agreements aimed at achieving a peaceful, stable and prosperous Afghanistan, Appreciating the assumption of full responsibility for security by the Afghan National Defence and Security Forces with the completion of the transition process at the end of 2014, reaffirming the commitment of the international community to continue to support the training, equipping, financing and development of the capacity of the Afghan National Defence and Security Forces throughout the transformation decade, as agreed in the Chicago Summit Declaration on Afghanistan in 2012 and the Wales Summit Declaration on Afghanistan in 2014, and looking forward to the deliberations on Afghanistan at the North Atlantic Treaty Organization summit in Warsaw in 2016, Recalling the decision of the international community at the International Afghanistan Conference on Afghanistan and the International Community: From Transition to the Transformation Decade, held in Bonn, Germany, on 5 December 2011, 5 to support the training, equipping, financing and development of the capacity of the Afghan National Defence and Security Forces beyond the end of the transition period, taking note of the Wales Summit Declaration, which highlighted the role of the International Security Assistance Force and outlined the role of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization and contributing partners in supporting lasting peace, security and stability in Afghanistan beyond 2014, including through the Resolute Support Mission to train, advise and assist the Afghan National Defence and Security Forces, the medium-term contribution to the financial sustainment of the Forces and the commitment to strengthening the long -term enduring partnership with Afghanistan, noting the signing of the security and defence cooperation agreement between the United States of America and Afghanistan (bilateral security agreement) and the signing of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization -Afghanistan status-of-forces agreement, noting also that the bilateral agreement between the North Atlantic Treaty Organization and Afghanistan and the invitation of the Government of Afghanistan to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization to establish the Mission provide a sound legal basis for the Mission, and acknowledging that the Mission is welcomed by the Security Council in its resolution 2189 (2014), Reiterating the urgent need to tackle the challenges facing Afghanistan, in particular the region-based violent extremist activities of the Taliban, including the Haqqani Network, Al-Qaida and other violent and extremist groups and criminals, including those involved in the narcotics trade, the development of the institutions _______________ 5 A/66/597-S/2011/762, annex. 3/24