Afghanistan: UN strongly condemns assassination of former president
Media reports indicate that Professor Rabbani – who was serving as Chairman of the High Peace Council in Afghanistan – was killed at his home in Kabul, the capital, as he was meeting with members of the Taliban in a bid to bring about a rapprochement.
A number of people were injured, including Mohammad Masoom Stanekzai, the head of the joint secretariat of Afghanistan’s Peace and Reintegration Programme, according to a news release issued by UNAMA.
“I condemn in the strongest possible terms this attack on people who were working to bring peace in Afghanistan,” Mr. Ban said in a statement. He also reiterated the UN’s commitment to supporting Afghanistan and its people in attaining peace and stability.
Both the Secretary-General and the mission extended their deepest condolences to the families of those affected.
Staffan de Mistura, the head of UNAMA and the Secretary-General’s Special Representative for Afghanistan, stressed that “the search for peace must continue,” adding that the mission will assist efforts to bring peace to the violence-wracked country.