KABUL - Hervé Ladsous, Head of the Department of Peacekeeping Operations (DPKO), concluded his five-day visit to Afghanistan today. This is Mr. Ladsous’ first visit to Afghanistan.

Mr. Ladsous called on the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Dr. Zalmay Rassoul, the National Security Advisor, Dr. Rangin Dadfar Spanta, Haji Raouf Ibrahimi, Speaker of the Wolesi Jirga (Lower House), Fazl Hadi Muslimyar, Speaker of Mishrano Jirga (Upper House) and other senior Afghan officials as well as representatives of civil society, media, the diplomatic corps and the military. They discussed different aspects of the United Nations Mission’s support to the Afghan people and Government.

On 29 November, Mr. Ladsous attended the launch by Minister Rassoul, and in the presence of eight other Cabinet Ministers, of the Comprehensive Review of UNAMA’s mandated activities and the United Nations’ support in Afghanistan as requested by the Security Council. Today, Mr. Ladsous joined the meeting of the Joint Coordination and Monitoring Board (JCMB) co-chaired by the Minister of Finance, Dr. Hazrat Omar Zakhilwal, and the Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General for Afghanistan, Staffan de Mistura.

Mr. Ladsous also paid a brief visit to Mazar-i-Sharif, where he met with the Provincial Governor, Atta Mohammad Noor, and UNAMA staff.