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KABUL: Members of the United Nations Security Council expressed their “deepest concerns” about the high levels of violence in Afghanistan following recent Taliban offensives, and called for an immediate reduction of hostilities.
In a statement, the Security Council voiced its concerns about the number of “serious” human rights abuses and violations in communities affected by the ongoing armed conflict across the country.
The UNSC also condemned “in the strongest terms the deplorable attack against the United Nations compound in Herat, Afghanistan, on 30 July, which resulted in the death of an Afghan security forces guard and several injured.
The members of the Security Council condemned in the strongest terms all instances of terrorism and deliberate targeted attacks against civilians. They recalled that all parties must respect their obligations under international humanitarian law in all circumstances, including those related to the protection of civilians.
The statement underlined deliberate attacks targeting civilians, United Nations personnel and United Nations compounds may constitute war crimes, and stressed the urgent and imperative need to bring the perpetrators to justice.
The Security Council reiterated its support to the work of the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA), and emphasized the importance of the safety and security of its personnel.
The members of the Security Council called on both the Islamic Republic and the Taliban to engage meaningfully in an inclusive, Afghan-led and Afghan-owned peace process in order to make urgent progress towards a political settlement and a ceasefire.
The members of the Security Council recognized that a sustainable peace can be achieved only through a comprehensive and inclusive Afghan-led, Afghan-owned peace process that aims at a permanent and comprehensive ceasefire, as well as an inclusive, just and realistic political settlement to end the conflict in Afghanistan. They stressed the need for full, equal and meaningful participation of women in this regard.
