Security Council strongly condemns attack near Indian consulate in eastern Afghanistan

The United Nations Security Council today condemned in the strongest terms the recent suicide attack near the Indian consulate in the eastern Afghan city of Jalalabad which killed and injured civilians, including children.

The 15-member Council, in a statement read out to the press, extended its deep sympathy and sincere condolences to the families of the victims of the “heinous act” that took place on Saturday and to the Government and people of Afghanistan.

“Members of the Security Council underlined the need to bring perpetrators, organizers, financiers and sponsors of these reprehensible acts of terrorism to justice,” said Ambassador María Cristina Perceval of Argentina, which holds the rotating Council presidency for August.

The Council urged all States, in accordance with their obligations under international law and relevant Security Council resolutions, to cooperate actively with the Afghan authorities.

Noting that the purported target of the attack was a consulate, the Council condemned “acts of violence against diplomatic and consular representatives, which endanger or take innocent lives and seriously impede the normal work of such representatives and officials.”

It also reaffirmed the need to combat terrorism, which the Council reiterated is “criminal and unjustifiable, regardless of its motivation, wherever, whenever and by whomsoever committed, and should not be associated with any religion, nationality, civilization or ethnic group.”

Ms. Perceval also stressed that “no terrorist act can reverse the path towards Afghan-led peace, democracy and stability in Afghanistan,” which is supported by the people and the Government of Afghanistan and the international community.

In light of a number of recent terrorist attacks in Afghanistan, the Council members reiterated their serious concern at the threats posed by the Taliban, Al-Qaida and illegal armed groups to the local population, national security forces, international military and international assistance efforts in Afghanistan.

According to media reports, no group or individual has yet taken responsibility for the attack.

The UN political mission in Afghanistan, known as UNAMA, last week reported that the number of Afghan civilians killed or injured in the first half of 2013 rose by 23 per cent compared to the same period last year, owing mainly to the increased use of improvised explosive devices (IEDs) by insurgents.