United Nations Peace Operations
Peacekeeping Operations, Special Political Missions and Support Offices

News (Consolidated) - UNSOM

  • News stories
New boost for telecommunications in Afghanistan
KABUL - Afghanistan’s fastest-growing telecommunication sector has received a US$ 65 million loan aimed at expanding the mobile network in the country. MTN Afghanistan, the second-largest mobile telephone operator in the country with more than 2.5 million subscribers, has received the loan from the…
8,000 election observers to be mobilized
23 June 2009 - More than eight thousand Afghans will be trained as observers for the forthcoming presidential and provincial council elections on 20 August. It’s not only the Independent Election Commission (IEC) and its staff who are busy ahead of polling day. Jandad Spinghar is running the “other…
Candidates embrace new campaigning methods
24 June 2009 - The irony is stark when one goes to meet Dr Ramzan Bashardost one of Afghanistan’s forty one presidential candidates for the 20 August elections. Seated in a small, hastily-erected canvas tent – the floor dusty and missing a carpet – and surrounded by a dozen supporters, mostly…
Attack on Afghan aid workers prompts UN call for better security
24 June 2009 - The acting United Nations Humanitarian Coordinator in Afghanistan, Tekeste Tekie, today called for better security for aid workers, after three national staff of a local non-governmental organization (NGO) were killed when the vehicle they were travelling in was destroyed by a…
  • News stories
Afghan officials vow to eradicate drug trade, terrorism
KABUL - Afghan officials today vowed to eradicate the country’s drug trade and drug-funded terrorism as they thanked the international community, including the United Nations, for helping out in the country’s counter-narcotics campaign. The joint campaign has so far reduced the number of Afghans…
  • News stories
What do Afghans expect from their next President?
KABUL - Listen to our new daily radio podcasts in Dari, Pashto and English from United Nations Radio in Afghanistan. Our podcasts feature a variety of news and views from UN agencies in Afghanistan and other stories from across the country. We offer our listeners a window on the work of the United…
Middle East, Afghanistan on agenda as Ban heads to Italy
25 June 2009 - Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon departs later today for Trieste, Italy, for a series of meetings with international partners focusing on the Middle East and Afghanistan, his spokesperson said today. On Friday, Mr. Ban will attend a meeting of the Middle East Quartet, which comprises the…
  • News stories
Kabul's drug addicts offered chance to get clean
KABUL - Mohammad Nayim, a thirty-nine-year-old former soldier from Kabul, lifts his left trouser leg without warning to reveal a Jaipur foot. The recovering heroin addict lost his limb in a landmine accident while fighting for the Mujahadeen and remembers that he turned to the deadly drug soon…
Afghanistan’s security obstacles "interconnected," Ban says
26 June 2009 - Drug trafficking, organized crime and terrorism are among the “interconnected” security challenges Afghanistan faces, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said today, calling on the international community to continue supporting the South Asian nation’s efforts to move towards a better…