Security Council Press Statement on Afghanistan

The following Security Council press statement was issued today by Council President Ruchira Kamboj (India):

The members of the Security Council condemned in the strongest terms the terrorist attack on the Embassy of Pakistan in Kabul, Afghanistan, on 2 December 2022, where the Head of Mission came under attack and his security guard was critically injured.

The members of the Security Council wished a speedy and full recovery to the injured.

The members of the Security Council called on all relevant parties to respect and ensure the safety and security of diplomatic and consular premises and personnel of United Nations Member States.

The members of the Security Council stressed the fundamental principle of the inviolability of diplomatic and consular premises, and the obligations on receiving States under the 1961 Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations and the 1963 Vienna Convention on Consular Relations, to take all appropriate steps to protect diplomatic and consular premises against any intrusion or damage and to prevent any disturbance of the peace of these missions or impairment of their dignity and any attack on diplomatic premises, agents and consular officers.

The members of the Security Council underlined the need to hold perpetrators, organizers, financiers and sponsors of these reprehensible acts of terrorism accountable and bring them to justice.  They urged all States, in accordance with their obligations under international law and relevant Security Council resolutions, to cooperate actively with all relevant authorities.