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2nd LD Writethru: UN Security Council slams deadly attacks in Afghan capital

Xinhua, March 2, 2017 Adjust font size:

The UN Security Council on Wednesday "condemned in the strongest terms the heinous and cowardly terrorist attacks" that occurred earlier in the day in the Afghan capital of Kabul, which killed at least 15 people and injured dozens.

The Taliban has claimed responsibility for the deadly attacks on targets including a police headquarters in the western part of the city.

"The members of the Security Council reiterated their serious concern at the threats posed by the Taliban, Al-Qaida, Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (ISIL/Da'esh) and illegal and armed groups to the local population, National Defense and Security Forces and the international presence in Afghanistan," the 15-nation UN body said in a press statement issued here.

"The members of the Security Council underlined the need to bring perpetrators, organizers, financiers and sponsors of these reprehensible acts 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 statement said.

Earlier Wednesday, a suicide car bomber struck an Afghan police precinct in western Kabul, reports said. Shortly after the attack, a suicide bomber blew himself up at the gates of an Afghan intelligence agency branch in eastern Kabul as another attacker was gunned down while trying to enter the compound.

"The members of the Security Council reiterated that terrorism in all its forms and manifestations is criminal and unjustifiable, regardless of its motivation and wherever, whenever and by whomsoever it is committed, and should not be associated with any religion, nationality, civilization or ethnic group," the statement said.

The council members reaffirmed the need for all states to combat by all means, in accordance with the Charter of the United Nations and other obligations under international law, in particular international human rights law, international refugee law and international humanitarian law, threats to international peace and security caused by terrorist acts, the statement said.

"The members of the Security Council expressed their deep sympathy and condolences to the families of the victims and to the people and government of Afghanistan and welcomed their unity in confronting this tragedy," the statement said.

"The members of the Security Council reiterated that no violent or terrorist acts can reverse the Afghan-led process along the path towards peace, democracy and stability in Afghanistan, which is supported by the people and the government of Afghanistan, and by the international community," the statement added.

Observers believe that like in past years the Taliban militants would intensify activities with the herald of spring in war-battered Afghanistan. Endi