PAKTIA, Afghanistan — Roza Otunbayeva, head of the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA), traveled to Paktia Province on Tuesday and met with senior Taliban officials to discuss security, economic development and the ongoing deportation of Afghan migrants from Pakistan, according to local Taliban authorities.
Otunbayeva met with Inamullah Salahuddin, the Taliban’s deputy governor in Paktia, where the two discussed recent developments in the province, including security challenges, anti-narcotics efforts, regional trade, and support for local economic growth.
According to Taliban officials, the UN envoy also criticized Pakistan’s forced deportation of Afghan migrants and condemned the treatment of returnees. Otunbayeva reportedly pledged to expand UN support for agriculture, education, small businesses and services for deported families.
Taliban authorities said Salahuddin urged the United Nations to play a constructive role in improving what they described as strained relations between the Taliban government and the international community.
So far, UNAMA has not publicly commented on Otunbayeva’s visit or the details of her meetings.
