Statement attributable to the Spokesperson for the Secretary-General on Afghanistan

The Secretary-General is deeply concerned over the level of insecurity in Afghanistan, as witnessed by events over the weekend in the South and South West of the country. These included the senseless murder, on Sunday, 8 April, of the Afghan journalist, Ajmal Naqshbandi, who was abducted by the Taliban in Helmand province on 5 March; an improvised explosive device attack which killed, on Sunday, six Canadian troops serving with the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) in Kandahar province; the ambush and murder, on Saturday, of six Afghan deminers in Farah province; and the murder of nine civilians including five children by a suicide bomber in Laghman province on 1 April. The Secretary-General expresses his condolences to the bereaved families and the respective governments.

The Secretary-General strongly condemns such acts of violence and calls upon the Government of Afghanistan and the international community including the ISAF to redouble their efforts to ensure stability, combat impunity and ensure an environment of respect for human rights.