Security Council urges perpetrators of Kabul attack be brought to justice

The Security Council has strongly condemned yesterday’s terrorist attack on an official ceremony in the Afghan capital, Kabul, which was attended by President Hamid Karzai and other dignitaries, and urged that those responsible for this “reprehensible” act be brought to justice.

Mr. Karzai – who has survived three assassination attempts in recent years – escaped uninjured in the attack, which claimed the lives of two Parliament members and injured nine others, including two Afghan National Police officers.

While expressing their condolences to the families of the victims as well as to the people and Government of Afghanistan, members of the Council “underlined the need to bring perpetrators, organizers, financiers, and sponsors of this reprehensible act of terrorism to justice,” and urged all States to cooperate with the Afghan authorities in this regard.

In a statement read out to the press by Ambassador Dumisani Kumalo of South Africa, which holds the rotating presidency of the 15-member body for April, the Council noted that the Taliban had claimed responsibility for the attack.

It went on to stress that “no terrorist act can reverse the path to peace, democracy and reconstruction in Afghanistan which is supported by the people and the Government of Afghanistan and the international community.”

The incident also sparked outrage from Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon who, in a statement issued yesterday by his spokesperson, stressed that “the attack against the legitimate institutions of the Afghan state and the Afghan people is unacceptable.”

Mr. Ban also lauded the country’s security forces for their quick response to the attack which averted more deaths and for protecting Afghan officials and foreign diplomats at the event.