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UN Security Council slams deadly terrorist attacks in Afghanistan

18 August 2012 03:52 (UTC +04:00)

Baku-APA. The UN Security Council on Friday strongly condemned "the coordinated terrorist attacks" on Tuesday and Wednesday in various parts of Afghanistan, stressing " the need to bring perpetrators, organizers, financiers and sponsors of these reprehensible acts of terrorism to justice," APA reports quoting Xinhua

"The members of the Security Council condemned in the strongest terms the coordinated terrorist attacks on 14 and 15 August 2012 in various parts of Afghanistan, causing numerous deaths and injuries of mostly civilians," the 15-nation UN body said in a press statement issued here.

They also expressed their deep sympathy and condolences to the families of the victims and to the people and government of Afghanistan and wished the injured a speedy recovery, the statement said.

On Tuesday, suicide attackers, an ambush and a remotely- controlled bomb killed up to 50 people across Afghanistan in the bloodiest day for civilians this year, reports said.

The statement said the Security Council reiterated the serious concern at the threats posed by the Taliban, al-Qaida and illegal armed groups to the local population, national security forces, international military and international assistance efforts in Afghanistan.

"The members of the Security Council reaffirmed that terrorism in all its forms and manifestations is criminal and unjustifiable, regardless of its motivation, wherever, whenever and by whomsoever committed, and should not be associated with any religion, nationality, civilization or ethnic group," it said.

No terrorist act can reverse the path towards Afghan-led peace, democracy and stability in Afghanistan, which is supported by the people and the government of Afghanistan and the international community, it added.

The bloodshed on Tuesday came as the nation prepared to celebrate the end of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, with many of the dead shopping in bazaars for Eid celebrations, the reports said.

Conflict-related violence in Afghanistan is still having devastating consequences for civilians despite the decrease in casualties this year, according to a United Nations report released last week.

The 2012 Midyear Report on the Protection of Civilians in Armed Conflict states that during the first half of the year, conflict- related violence led to 1,145 civilian deaths and 1,954 injuries. While these figures represent a 15 percent decrease compared to last year, the UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) stressed that more needs to be done to protect civilians.

UNAMA has been in the Central Asian nation since 2002, at the request of the Afghan government, to assist in the laying the foundations for sustainable peace and development. In March this year, the Security Council renewed UNAMA’s mandate until March 2013.