UN Security Council strongly condemns suicide attack in Afghanistan

UNITED NATIONS, (NNI): The Security Council has condemned “in the strongest terms” the suicide attack in Afghanistan, which caused many deaths and injuries to civilians, including children.

In a press statement, the Council members 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.

On Nov. 23, a suicide attacker detonated an improvised explosive device in a sports field in the Yahya Khel district of Afghanistan’s southeastern province of Paktika. At least 50 civilians who were attending a volleyball match were immediately killed while another 60 were injured. According to reports, many children were among the dead and injured.

The council members reiterated their serious concern at “the threats posed by the Taliban, Al-Qaida and other terrorist and extremist groups, and illegal armed groups to the local population, national security forces, international military, and international assistance efforts in Afghanistan, particularly in light of recent terrorist attacks elsewhere in the country.”

“The members of the Security Council underlined the need to bring perpetrators, organizers, financiers and sponsors of these reprehensible acts of terrorism to justice, and urged all states, in accordance with their obligations under international law and relevant Security Council resolutions, to cooperate actively with the Afghan authorities in this regard,” the statement said.

The 15-nation council reiterated that 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 by the international community