United Nations, Nov 21: UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres and the Security Council have strongly condemned the terrorist attack targeting a religious gathering in Afghan capital Kabul.
The UN chief said deliberate targeting of civilians is a “clear violation of international humanitarian law”.
In a statement issued by his spokesperson, the secretary-general said “every effort” should be made to bring the perpetrators of Tuesday’s attack to justice.
Guterres also extended his deepest sympathies and condolences to the families of the victims and wished a speedy recovery to those injured.
The attack is said to be one of the deadliest in recent months as at least 55 people were killed and over 80 wounded in the blast that targeted a gathering of about 1,000 people, including religious scholars, celebrating the birth anniversary of the Prophet Muhammad.
The UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) has deployed human rights investigation teams to establish facts and gather more information.
A press statement issued by Security Council President and China’s Ambassador to the UN, Ma Zhaoxu, said members of the Council condemned in the strongest terms the “heinous and cowardly” terrorist attack.
“The members of the Security Council reaffirmed that terrorism in all its forms and manifestations constitutes one of the most serious threats to international peace and security,” it said.
The 15-nation Council underlined the need to hold perpetrators, organisers, financiers and sponsors of these reprehensible acts of terrorism accountable and bring them to justice. The members reiterated that any act of terrorism is criminal and unjustifiable, regardless of their motivation.
Meanwhile he Taliban have denied involvement in a suicide bombing in the Afghan capital that killed at least 50 people.
Tuesday’s attack, which targeted a gathering of hundreds of clerics at a wedding hall in Kabul, bore the hallmarks of a local Islamic State affiliate, which has carried out mass bombings targeting minority Shiites as well as perceived supporters of the US-backed government.
Both the Taliban and the IS affiliate want to overthrow the Afghan government and impose a harsh form of Islamic rule.
But they are bitterly divided over leadership, ideology and tactics, with the Taliban mainly targeting security forces and government officials, and IS specialising in sectarian attacks on civilians.
Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid said late Tuesday his group condemns any attack on civilians or religious clerics.
