The UN plays a leading role in co-ordinating the overall international effort in Afghanistan - including through co-Chairmanship of the Joint Co-ordination and Management Board, which oversees implementation of the Afghanistan Compact agreed in London in January 2006. On 20 August, Afghans go to the polls to elect a new President, in the first Afghan-led elections since the fall of the Taleban in 2001.

Most recent

On 30 June 2009, the Security Council heard from the Secretary General's Special Representative for Afghanistan (SRSG), Kai Eide. The UK's statement in that debate underlined the importance of forthcoming elections, and the central role played by United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) in co-ordinating the overall international effort.  Click here for a detailed look at the UK's statement on Afghanistan.

On 15 July 2009, the Security Council adopted a Presidential Statement underlining the importance of credible, secure and inclusive elections in Afghanistan.

Background

In March 2008, the Secretary-General appointed Kai Eide, Norway's former ambassador to NATO, as his new SRSG to Afghanistan and head of UNAMA - the UN mission in Afghanistan. At the same time, the Security Council adopted a resolution extending and refocusing the UNAMA mandate, and underlining the key co-ordinating role of the SRSG.  On 20 March, the Security Council adopted UN Security Council Resolution 1868 (2009), which extended the mandate of UNAMA until 23 March 2010.

On 27 April 2009, the Prime Minister, Gordon Brown, made a statement to Parliament, updating the UK strategy on Afghanistan, and underlining the need for the necessary military activity to be complimented and co-ordinated with economic, social and political progress - aimed at enabling the Afghan authorites to take grater responsibility for tackling the challenges they face.