Security Council Press Statement on the Kabul Bomb Attack

 

The following Security Council press statement on Afghanistan was read out today by Council President Le Luong Minh (Viet Nam):

The members of the Security Council condemned in the strongest terms the terrorist suicide attack that occurred outside the Indian Embassy in Kabul on 8 October 2009, causing numerous deaths and injuries, including among both Afghan civilians and the Embassy's security personnel.  The members of the Security Council expressed their condolences to the families of the victims, as well as to the people and the Governments of Afghanistan and India.

The members of the Security Council regretted that this was the second such attack on the Indian Embassy in Kabul in the past two years, and recalled Security Council press statement SC/9386 of 7 July 2008, which condemned that attack.

The members of the Security Council noted that the Taliban claimed responsibility for the attacks.  The members of the Security Council underlined the need to bring perpetrators, organizers, financiers and sponsors of this reprehensible act of terrorism to justice, and urged all States, in accordance with their obligations under international law and relevant Security Council resolutions, to cooperate actively with the Afghan authorities in this regard.

The members of the Security Council 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.

The members of the Security Council reaffirmed the need to combat by all means, in accordance with the Charter of the United Nations, threats to international peace and security caused by terrorist acts.  The members of the Security Council reminded States that they must ensure that measures taken to combat terrorism comply with all their obligations under international law, in particular international human rights, refugee and humanitarian law.

The members of the Security Council reiterated their determination to combat all forms of terrorism, in accordance with its responsibilities under the Charter of the United Nations.

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