Second region in Afghanistan now disarmed, UN announces

The Jalalabad region of Afghanistan has become the country's second to be disarmed, a United Nations spokesperson announced today.

“As we speak seven regions are still undergoing disarmament,” Ariane Quentier told reporters in the capital Kabul.

Jalalabad joins Mazar-i-Sharif in being fully decommissioned, according to the UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA). Nationally, more than 39,000 military personnel have disarmed in the country.

Although Jalalabad has been declared disarmed about 300 personnel remain on duty in order to guard military equipment, Ms. Quentier said.

In a related development, UNAMA announced that the total number of heavy weapons collected in Afghanistan now exceeds 8,400.