News (Consolidated) - UNSOM

23 July 2009 - Some 120 European observers are joining thousands of Afghan observers for the forthcoming presidential and provincial council elections in Afghanistan on 20 August. The aim is to accomplish “the most difficult observation mission…in an ongoing conflict country,” says the head of the…

KABUL - “Hello and good evening. I want to welcome you to the first presidential debate.” The words of television journalist Mujahid Kakar as he opened Afghanistan’s first ever televised presidential debate last night. Presidential candidates Dr Abdullah Abdullah and Dr Ashraf Ghani Ahmadzai debated…

KABUL - The groundbreaking ceremony for a new library in Kabul took place today – the result of a dedication to Afghanistan’s history by one woman. Since arriving in Afghanistan in the 1960s Nancy Hatch Dupree, 81, has dedicated her work to collecting anything and everything ever written about…

27 July 2009 - The issue of Afghan refugees living in Pakistan will be discussed at a major meeting in Kabul. At its 17th meeting tomorrow the tripartite commission will discuss the renewal of the key agreement between Afghanistan, Pakistan, and the UN Refugee Agency, UNHCR. The Tripartite Agreement…

27 July 2009 - The United Nations mission in Afghanistan today praised the country’s election authorities for staying on schedule with preparations for the upcoming national and regional elections. Some 17 million ballot papers and nearly 100,000 ballot boxes are being delivered across the country…

KABUL - Village elders from the restive north eastern province of Nuristan have warned that the province will collapse unless urgent attention is paid to their concerns. They want an increase in infrastructure development, economic development and combating insurgent activities. Altogether eleven…

28 July 2009 - Last night at approximately 10.30pm the United Nations compound in the western province of Herat came under attack by anti-government elements. Full statement in English - دری - پشتو

KABUL - A warehouse on the outskirts of Kabul was today the centre of attention as election workers packing ballot papers and boxes welcomed the UN’s top envoy in the country. Since the last A300 flight with 153,000 presidential and provincial ballot papers landed at Kabul Airport last week, the…

KABUL - Rebel insurgents in Afghanistan have launched a rocket attack on a United Nations compound in the western province of Herat, causing damage to a vehicle and equipment, the UN mission to the war-wracked nation said in a statement today. Some seven rockets were fired last night in a deliberate…

28 July 2009 - On 20 August Afghanistan will hold elections for President and provincial council members. This is the second time Afghans will go to the polls since the fall of the Taliban in 2001. And preparations are in full swing.

28 July 2009 - The Governments of Afghanistan, Pakistan, and the UN refugee agency (UNHCR) today agreed to endorse the extension of their tripartite agreement on voluntary repatriation until 2012. They also agreed to work together on extending the Proof of Registration (PoR) cards for eligible…