JALALABAD -  A senior United Nations diplomat on Tuesday said international assistance to Afghanistan would increase if Kabul signed the Bilateral Security Agreement (BSA) with Washington.

Heading a delegation, UN Secretary General’s Special Representative Jan Kubis arrived in Jalalabad and held talks with the provincial governor and other officials.

Kubis and Governor Maulvi Attaullah Ludin discussed in detail the overall situation in the province, Ludin’s spokesman Ahmad Zia Abdulzai told Pajhwok Afghan News.

He said Ludin told the UNAMA chief that maintaining security and combating administrative corruption remained his top priorities.

Abdulzai quoted Ludin as saying: “The past three months saw people’s cooperation with the government increasing and the security situation improving day by day.”

The governor said security of polling stations in Jalalabad and all districts across the province had been ensured, with security forces conducting operations to subdue threats posed by rebels.

Kubis said the provincial administration and security organs must do more to ensure good governance and security for UN offices and other NGOs.

He said foreign aid to Afghanistan would be increased after the key security accord between Kabul and Washington was concluded.

He revealed the UN had initiated some programs aimed at bringing about peace and stability to Afghanistan and the region. He said the programs had partially been discussed with governments of Afghanistan and Pakistan, hoping the efforts would yield positive results. (Pajhwok)