UN reports improved security in Afghanistan as disarmament picks up pace

The disarmament process in Afghanistan is picking up pace, according to a spokesman for the United Nations Assistance Mission in the country.

Citing reports by local authorities in Kunduz, Manoel de Almeida e Silva said on Thursday that more than 6,000 small arms, 30 tanks and 20 vehicles have been collected.

The UN mission, known as UNAMA, “takes note with satisfaction the innovative approach to disarmament that is being carried out in the northeast,” he said, adding that efforts are being made by Afghan elders and officials to “try and convince the local individual commanders, who do not belong to any military registered units, to hand in their weapons.”

Although several commanders in the region still need to be disarmed, the security situation has improved since the beginning of the disarmament commission’s work earlier this month, according to UNAMA.

UN staff have observed the collection and transfer of weapons to the main arms storage site in Kunduz city. “The commission is now in the process of collecting these arms and transferring them to a central collection point” in Badakshan, Takhar, Baghlan and Kunduz, Mr. de Almeida e Silva reported.

Meanwhile, in the north, efforts are being made to disarm local commanders. Since 21 November, some 663 light and heavy weapons have been collected, according to UNAMA, which has been supervising the process.