UNSC condemns attack on Indian and Nepalese guards in Kabul

United Nations: On Wednesday, the UN strongly condemned suicide blasts in Afghanistan, including the attacks on Nepalese and Indian guards, expressing “serious concern” at the threats posed by the Taliban, Al-Qaeda and Islamic State terror groups to the population in the war-torn country. The 15-nation UN Security Council “condemned in the strongest terms” the terrorist attacks on 20 June in Kabul and Badakhshan province. The detonation of an improvised explosive device (IED) in a bazaar in Kishem district, province of Badakhshan, killed ten civilians including five children, and injured 36 others, mostly children. In Kabul, following a suicide attack on Nepalese and Indian contractors, an IED detonated targeting a provincial council member. [caption id=“attachment_2849376” align=“alignleft” width=“380”]  Representational image. AP[/caption] The attacks resulted in at least 27 deaths, including 13 Nepalese citizens. Taliban claimed responsibility for both attacks occurred in Kabul. Two Indians, Ganesh Thapa and Govind Singh, were among those killed in the Kabul attack. The members of the Security Council expressed their “deep” sympathy and condolences to the families of the victims and to the people and governments of Afghanistan, Nepal and India. “The members of the Security Council reiterated their serious concern at the threats posed by the Taliban, Al-Qaeda, ISIL (Da’esh) affiliates, illegal and armed groups to the local population, national defence and security forces and international presence in Afghanistan, including attacks against diplomatic facilities and personnel,” the Council said. The members of the Security Council underlined the need to bring perpetrators, organisers, financiers and sponsors of these reprehensible acts of terrorism to justice and asked all States to cooperate actively with the Afghan authorities in this regard. “The members of the Security Council reiterated that terrorism in all its forms and manifestations is criminal and unjustifiable, regardless of its motivation and wherever, whenever and by whomsoever it is committed, and should not be associated with any religion, nationality, civilisation or ethnic group,” it added. They stressed that no violent or terrorist acts can reverse the Afghan-led process along the path towards peace, democracy and stability in Afghanistan, supported by the people and government of Afghanistan and by the international community. UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon also condemned the terror attacks and extended his condolences to the families of the victims and to the Governments of Afghanistan and Nepal. “He calls for those responsible for these indiscriminate attacks to be brought to justice,” a statement issued by his spokesperson said.