Terrorism cannot divert Afghanistan from path toward peace – Security Council

The Security Council today strongly condemned the suicide attack which claimed the lives of numerous civilians in the northern Afghan town of Baghlan just days ago, reiterating that no act of terrorism can reverse the country’s path toward peace.

In a statement read out to the press by Ambassador R. M. Marty M. Natalegawa of Indonesia, which holds the rotating Council Presidency for this month, the 15-member body noted that “this terrorist attack was one of the deadliest in Afghanistan in recent years and heinously targeted innocent people, including children and representatives of the Afghan democratic institutions.”

Adding its voice to those of Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and UN human rights chief Louise Arbour in condemning the 6 November attack, which killed over 40 people and injured many more, the Council urged the Afghan authorities to do everything possible to bring the perpetrators and organizers of the bombing to justice.

While expressing concern about the increasing level of violence in the country, the Council reiterated that “no terrorist act can reverse the path toward peace, democracy and reconstruction in Afghanistan, which is supported by the people and the Government of Afghanistan and the international community.”