UNITED NATIONS: The UN Security Council is considering a visit toAfghanistan to get an up-close view of the conflict-ridden country and helpdevelop a new strategy, Kazakhstan´s UN ambassador said Thursday.

US national security adviser H.R. McMaster last week briefed ambassadors ofthe 15-member council in New York following a series of high-profile USvisits to Afghanistan, including Vice President Mike Pence last month.

“We think it´s important for Security Council members to get the update ofthe situation from the ground,” said Kazakh Ambassador Kairat Umarov, thecouncil´s president for this month.

“We would like them to feel the situation there and work with the Afghangovernment on what are the needs.”

No date was announced for the visit, which would be the first by the fullcouncil to Afghanistan in seven years.

US President Donald Trump in August unveiled a new strategy forAfghanistan, vowing to deploy more troops, on top of the 11,000 already inthe country, to train and advise Afghan security forces.

Afghanistan is expected to top the agenda when Kazakh President NursultanNazarbayev meets Trump next week at the White House before heading to NewYork to chair a council debate on the conflict on January 19.

The Kazakh ambassador called for “a more comprehensive approach” toAfghanistan that puts a stronger focus on development, and is not limitedto boosting security.

Backed by US forces, Afghanistan has been struggling to beat back theresurgent Taliban since the withdrawal of NATO combat forces at the end of2014.