Statement attributable to the Spokesman for the Secretary-General on the terrorist attack in Paktika, Afghanistan

The Secretary-General strongly condemns the suicide attack on civilians in Afghanistan’s Paktika province on 23 November, which killed at least 50 people and injured more than 60 others. He denounces this attack against men, women and children who were enjoying a community sporting event not only as a grave violation of Afghan and international law, but as fundamentally abhorrent.

The Secretary-General expresses his deepest sympathies to the families of those killed and injured, and his steadfast solidarity with the people of Afghanistan in refusing to be cowed by such attacks. He hopes those responsible will be brought swiftly to justice.