...and are my arms tired.(AKI) - The United Nations's secretary-general Ban Ki-moon visited the Afghan capital, Kabul, on Wednesday on an unannounced trip. As the United States prepares to increase the number of troops in the country in the face of a resurgent Taliban, Ban said the United Nations was strongly committed to delivering peace in the country.
Ban pledged to give Afghanistan the UN's full support ahead of elections due in August this year.
"This year is going to be a very important and a crucial year for the Afghanistan people and government in many aspects, in addressing security challenges and also establishing fuller democracy and development and prosperity," Ban said at a joint media conference with president Hamid Karzai.
The secretary-general expressed his determination to see Afghanistan "enjoy full democracy, full security and full development".
"It is clear that Afghanistan will continue to face many challenges in 2009, but I think we can confront them."
In the meantime, any good restaurants in town?
With presidential and provincial council polls scheduled for 20 August, he said the UN would ensure that the Afghan independent electoral commission received the funds it needed from donors.