Members of the Security Council called on the warring parties in Afghanistan - particularly the Taliban - to hold their fire and resume talks aimed at resolving the country's long-running conflict.
The United Nations refugee agency and Pakistan are set to begin the second phase of their joint screening programme to determine the refugee status of thousands of Afghans who have fled to northwest Pakistan in recent months.
Close to 11,000 Afghans have returned home from Pakistan since the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) began a voluntary repatriation programme six weeks ago, UN officials said today.
After more than 20 years of "fruitless endeavours," the Security Council might wish to consider adopting a comprehensive approach to settling the conflict in Afghanistan, Secretary-General Kofi Annan suggests in a new report released today.
The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) today called on the Taliban authorities to stop making baseless allegations against the agency and its staff in Afghanistan.
Secretary-General Kofi Annan remained concerned at the continued detention of eight international and 16 national aid workers in Afghanistan and appealed to the Taliban authorities for a speedy solution, his spokesman said today.
The Taliban authorities, who have detained several foreign nationals for allegedly attempting to propagate religion in Afghanistan, will grant visas to diplomats from the countries concerned, a United Nations spokesman announced today.
The Office of the United Nations Humanitarian Coordinator in Afghanistan today said it was "very concerned" about the arrest of eight international aid workers in Kabul.
The Security Council today moved to establish a United Nations mechanism designed to enforce the international arms embargo against the Taliban, keep track of terrorist training camps in Afghanistan, and fight the drug trade which is fuelling the country's conflict.
Members of the United Nations Security Council today urged the international community to provide assistance to Afghanistan, a country ravaged by the twin scourges of war and drought.
