TIRINKOT - UN Secretary-General's Special Representative for Afghanistan Jan Kubis, who arrived in central Uruzgan province on Thursday, said the world's body mission in the country was going to shut its offices in several Afghan provinces and confine them to zone level.

Kubis, who arrived in Tirinkot, told reporters that UN was planning to limit its United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) local offices to the country's zones within next few months. However, he said the move would have no impact on the UN's assistance with Uruzgan and other provinces, where the offices were being closed.

The UN official, who met local officials and residents, said Uruzgan was more backward as compared to other provinces. Security in the province has improved, but still much works needed to be done in various spheres, he said.

He asked regional countries, especially neighboring Pakistan and Iran, to initiate sincere efforts at bringing stability and peace to Afghanistan. (Pajhwok)