The members of the UN Security Council in a statement on Tuesday have expressed their “deep concern” about the high levels of violence in Afghanistan following the Taliban’s offensive attacks and called for an immediate reduction of violence.
The statement also condemned “in the strongest terms" the "deplorable attack against the United Nations compound in Herat province on July 30” that resulted in the death of an Afghan security forces guard and several injured."
The statement also expressed deep concern about the number of “reported serious human rights abuses and violations in communities affected by the ongoing armed conflict across the country.”
“The members of the Security Council condemned in the strongest terms all instances of terrorism and deliberate targeted attacks against civilians,” the statement said, adding: “all parties must respect their obligations under international humanitarian law in all circumstances, including those related to the protection of civilians.”
The statement "underlined those deliberate attacks targeting civilians, United Nations personnel and United Nations compounds may constitute war crimes and stressed the urgent and imperative need to bring the perpetrators to justice."
The members also reiterated their support for the work of the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA), and emphasized the importance of the safety and security of United Nations personnel.
The members of the Security Council called on both the Islamic Republic and the Taliban to engage meaningfully in an inclusive, Afghan-led and Afghan-owned peace process in order to make urgent progress towards a political settlement and a ceasefire.
The members of the Security Council recognized that a sustainable peace can be achieved only through a comprehensive and inclusive Afghan-led, Afghan-owned peace process that aims at a permanent and comprehensive ceasefire, as well as an inclusive, just and realistic political settlement to end the conflict in Afghanistan.
They stressed the need for full, equal and meaningful participation of women in this regard, the statement further said.
Members also reaffirmed that there is no military solution to the conflict and declared that they do not support the restoration of the Islamic Emirate.