UN Security Council slams deadly terrorist attacks in Afghan capital

The UN Security Council on Sunday "condemned in the strongest terms" the series of deadly terrorist attacks in the Afghan capital of Kabul since last Thursday, and "underlined the need to bring the perpetrators of these deplorable acts to justice."

The attacks resulted in hundreds of casualties and at least 70 deaths, including children, the 15-nation council noted in a press statement issued here, adding that at least two of them were claimed by the Taliban.

The Security Council members expressed their deep sympathy and condolences to the families of the victims of these heinous acts and to the government of Afghanistan, the statement said. "They wished the injured a speedy recovery and underlined the need to bring the perpetrators of these deplorable acts to justice."

"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, and that any acts of terrorism are criminal and unjustifiable, regardless of their motivation, wherever, whenever and by whomsoever committed," it said.

"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," it said.

"The members of the Security Council reiterated that no violent or terrorist acts 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 by the international community," said the statement.

The three deadly bombings which rocked Afghanistan fortified capital Kabul city on Friday and claimed scores of lives, mostly civilians, have been widely condemned at home and abroad.

In the first deadly violent bombing, an explosive-laden truck went off in a market in Shah Shahid locality in the eastern part of Kabul city at 01:00 a.m. Friday, leaving 15 civilians dead and more than 400 others injured, according to locals.

However, Kabul police chief Abdul Rahman Rahimi put the number of dead bodies at eight. The deadly blast had also destroyed scores of houses and shops worth millions of U.S. dollars.

On the same day, a suicide bomber wearing police uniform blew himself up among students of Police Academy at around 07:30 p.m. local time leaving 20 dead and 10 others injured, reports said.

However, the Interior Ministry in a statement released here Saturday afternoon confirmed that more than "40 students and civilians" were killed and injured in suicide attack against police academy on Friday.

The statement, nevertheless, didn't give exact figure of casualties.

In the third deadly attack which happened in Qasaba locality had claimed nine lives including a foreign soldier, a statement of the NATO-led Resolute Support released here Saturday confirmed.

The foreign trooper is an American and the remaining eight victims are Afghans, according to Afghan sources.

Afghans from all walks of life have termed the multiple bombings as "coward terrorist attacks" which were strongly condemned.

The UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) has also condemned terrorist attack in Kabul and called for immediate ban on weapons which have been used to kill and maim indiscriminately.

Civilians often bear the brunt of war in Afghanistan as 1,592 civilians had been killed and 3,329 others injured in the first half month of 2015, UNAMA said in a report released recently. Endite