Afghan FM calls for active UNDCP role in Afghanistan

ISLAMABAD (NNI): Taliban have urged the United Nations Drug Control Programme (UNDCP) to increase its activities in Afghanistan to deal with the drug problem in the war-ravaged country.

Afghan Foreign Minister Maulvi Wakil Ahmed Mutawakil, in a meeting with UNDCP representative in Pakistan, Ahmad Farahi, said that the UNDCP activities and funding for Afghanistan are insufficient.

Mutawakil said that active role and increased funding could help resolve the problem of the poppy growers to substitute poppy with other crops.

The Afghan Foreign Minister also held talks with officials of the UN Special Mission for Afghanistan in Islamabad and discussed with them matters relating to the proposed visit of the newly appointed UN envoy for Afghanistan Francesc Vendrell.

Mutawakil was told that Vendrell wants to visit Afghanistan in February, which will be his first visit to the country. Mr. Vendrell, who was appointed as UN Secretary Generals Personal Envoy for Afghanistan last week is scheduled to embark on regions visit on February 3.

"We are waiting for Vendrell visit as what new proposals he is bringing," Afghan sources quoted Mutawakil as telling the UN officials.

Afghan Foreign Minister also met with Italian ambassador in Islamabad and discussed with him the late last year Afghan moot on Rome, convened by former Afghan monarch Zahir Shah. Taliban had not attended the conference, organized with the help of the Italian government.

Mutawakil, also met officials of a Chinese telecom company in Islamabad for revival of the telecommunication infrastructure in Afghanistan. He also met various delegation of ulema in Islamabad before leaving for Kabul after concluding his four-day visit to Pakistan on Wednesday.