SECURITY COUNCIL PRESS STATEMENT ON KANDAHAR TERRORIST ATTACK

 

The following Security Council press statement was issued today by Council President Ricardo Alberto Arias ( Panama):

The members of the Security Council condemned in the strongest terms the suicide attack that caused numerous deaths in the province of Kandahar, Afghanistan, on 17 February.  They noted with dismay that this terrorist attack was one of the deadliest in Afghanistan in recent years and targeted civilians, including children, and police officers.

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

The members of the Security Council reiterated their concern at the increasing threat to the local population, national security forces, international military and international assistance efforts posed by the Taliban, Al-Qaida, illegal armed groups, criminals and those involved in the narcotics trade.

The members of the Security Council reiterated that no terrorist act can reverse the path towards peace, democracy and reconstruction in Afghanistan, which is supported by the people and the Government of Afghanistan and the international community.

* *** *

For information media • not an official record