Japanese official to head UN Afghan mission

Tokyo, March 18: A former Japanese foreign ministry official is set to head the UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA), the media reported on Friday.

Diplomatic sources said the UN Security Council approved on Thursday the appointment of Tadamichi Yamamoto as the Secretary-General's Special Representative for Afghanistan and the head of UNAMA, public broadcaster NHK reported.

Yamamoto is scheduled to assume the post in June.

The UNAMA supports administrative operations and peace efforts with Taliban insurgents.

Yamamoto was the Japanese government's Special Representative for Afghanistan and Pakistan from 2010 to 2012. He has been serving as the deputy head of UNAMA since 2014.

He is the third Japanese official to serve as the UN Secretary-General's special representative, after Yasushi Akashi for Cambodia and former Yugoslavia, and Sukehiro Hasegawa for East Timor.

IANS