UN staff return to Afghanistan

UN staff left a week ago fearing reprisals

The United Nations has decided to send its international staff back into Afghanistan.

This follows reports that the security situation has not deteriorated in response to the Security Council's move to impose fresh sanctions on the Taleban authorities.

I feel happy to be back and I am here to continue my normal job

UN worker David Pakas

Ten UN staff returned to three different cities on Sunday and officials said more would go back soon to take up their responsibilities in Afghanistan.

The UN withdrew its 60 international staff members more than a week ago as fears were raised of a possible violent reaction to new sanctions imposed by the UN.

Order maintained

"Close and continued monitoring of the situation in Afghanistan indicated that order has prevailed, and there have been no security incidents to warrant prolonging the withdrawal," said a statement issued by the UN office in Islamabad.

Many Afghans rely on UN handouts

It said staff had returned to Kabul, Herat and Mazar-e-Sharif, adding that: "A gradual return will be effected in accordance with the current staffing levels."

More people are expected to be back in the first week of January.

"I feel happy to be back and I am here to continue my normal job," said one returning UN security official, David Pakas.

Diplomatic approach

When the UN imposed sanctions for the first time against the Taleban authorities a year ago, mobs ransacked UN offices at various places in Afghanistan.

Both Washington and Moscow have concerns about Osama Bin Laden

The fresh sanctions were imposed because of the Taleban's refusal to surrender Saudi-born dissident Osama Bin Laden.

A BBC correspondent in Islamabad says that, this time, the Taleban have been more diplomatic and have concentrated on issuing statements to highlight the possible consequences of the Security Council's move.

The 60 foreign staff in Afghanistan work for UN agencies such as the World Food Programme and the human settlement agency, Habitat, and in de-mining operations.

Relief workers have complained that Afghanistan, which has yet to recover from a long and devastating civil war, faces dire humanitarian consequences if vital aid operations are interrupted.