Security Council Press Statement on Terrorist Attack in Herat

 

The following press statement was issued today by Security Council President Ruhakana Rugunda ( Uganda):

The members of the Security Council condemned in the strongest terms the terrorist attack against the United Nations operations centre in the western city of Herat, Afghanistan, on 23 October.  While no casualties among the United Nations staff have been reported, the members of the Security Council deeply regret that a number of security guards were wounded.  The thoughts of the Security Council members are with the UNAMA [United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan] personnel, the wounded security guards and their families and the people of Afghanistan.  The members of the Security Council are appreciative of the prompt support rendered by units of the Afghan National Security Forces and International Security Assistance Force in the face of the attack.  The members of the Council reiterate their steadfast support for the role of the United Nations in Afghanistan.

The members of the Security Council noted that a number of assailants have been killed in the attack.  The Security Council members will be waiting to hear the results of the investigation that has already been launched.

The members of the Security Council reiterated their serious concern at the threats posed by the Taliban, Al-Qaida, and other extremist groups, to the local population, national security forces, international military and international assistance efforts in Afghanistan.

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 members of the Security Council reaffirmed the need to combat by all means, in accordance with the Charter of the United Nations and all obligations under international law, in particular international human rights, refugee and humanitarian law, threats to international peace and security caused by terrorist acts.

The members of the Security Council reiterated their determination to combat all forms of terrorism, in accordance with their 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.

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For information media • not an official record