UN to keep Afghan mission after US pullout

UNITED NATIONS • The United Nations said on Thursday it will maintain its political and humanitarian mission to Afghanistan despite the departure of United States and Nato troops later this year.

Mr Stephane Dujarric, spokesman for the UN Secretary-General, said it was "clear and obvious" that the troops' departure "will have an impact on the country as a whole", in response to questions about the mission's future. "We will continue to study the situation, but our work in Afghanistan will continue," he said.

"The UN has been present on the humanitarian development end in Afghanistan for a long, long time, and we will continue to be there to help the Afghan people," he said, adding that the organisation would "adapt to the situation on the ground".

The UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (Unama) is a small political operation with about 1,200 employees - the majority are Afghan nationals - and does not include peacekeepers.

With all UN agencies included, the organisation's total presence in Afghanistan amounts to approximately 4,000 people, some 75 per cent of whom are Afghan.

There are two UN envoys to Afghanistan: Canada's Ms Deborah Lyons, who is the head of Unama, and veteran French diplomat Jean Arnault, who was appointed last month to "assist in the achievement of a political solution to the conflict".

US President Joe Biden announced on Wednesday the unconditional withdrawal of American troops from Afghanistan by Sept 11. The pullout will begin on May 1.

The Pentagon has around 2,500 troops in Afghanistan, down from a high of more than 100,000. Thousands more serve as part of a 9,600-strong Nato force, which will also withdraw.

AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE

  • 1,200 Approximate number of employees in the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan.

    2,500 Number of US troops in Afghanistan now, down from more than 100,000.

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A version of this article appeared in the print edition of The Straits Times on April 17, 2021, with the headline UN to keep Afghan mission after US pullout. Subscribe