Secretary-General deplores deadly suicide attack in Afghanistan

United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon today denounced the suicide attack that killed more than 40 civilians and injured scores of others in the northern Afghan town of Baghlan – one of the deadliest the war-torn nation has witnessed in recent years.

“The Secretary-General strongly condemns this heinous attack and sends his profound condolences to the bereaved families of the victims, as well as to the Government and people of Afghanistan,” according to a statement issued by his spokesperson.

Mr. Ban “once again expresses his continuing anxiety regarding the unstable security situation throughout Afghanistan.”

Just yesterday, both Mr. Ban and the UN General Assembly voiced their deep concern about the security situation in Afghanistan.

Mr. Ban, in a statement, called on States assisting the fledgling democracy to maintain their commitments so that Afghanistan does not again become “a host for terrorist and extremist groups.”

Likewise, the Assembly strongly condemned the upsurge of violence in Afghanistan, including the rising trend of suicide attacks, owing to the increased violent and terrorist activity by the Taliban, Al-Qaida and other extremist groups.

In resolution adopted by the 192-member body, the Assembly called on the Afghan Government, with the assistance of the international community, “to continue to address the threat to the security and stability of Afghanistan posed by the Taliban, Al-Qaida and other extremist groups as well as by criminal violence.”