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Security Council strongly condemns Taliban attack on US consulate in Herat

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Afghanistan
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UN News
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13 September 2013 – Strongly condemning the Taliban bombing attack against the United States Consulate in Herat, the United Nations Security Council today urged broad cooperation to ensure the perpetrators are brought to justice and reiterated that “no terrorist act can reverse the path towards Afghan-led peace, democracy and stability in Afghanistan.”

In a statement to the press issued in New York, the Council's 15 members condemned the attack - reportedly a suicide truck bombing - on the US consulate in the Western Afghan province, for which the Taliban have claimed responsibility.

The Security Council in its statement expressed deep sympathy and sincere condolences to the families of the victims of this “heinous” act, and to the Government and people of Afghanistan.

Council members also condemned acts of violence against diplomatic and consular representatives, which endanger or take innocent lives and seriously impede the normal work of such representatives and officials.

Further to the statement, the Council reiterated its “serious concern” at the threats posed by the Taliban, Al-Qaida and illegal armed groups to the local population, national security forces, diplomatic facilities, international military and international assistance efforts in Afghanistan, particularly in light of a number of recent terrorist attacks in Kabul and elsewhere in the country.

“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 statement stresses.

Reaffirming that terrorism “in all its forms and manifestations” is criminal and unjustifiable, the Council also reaffirmed the need to combat by all means, in accordance with the UN Charter and all obligations under international law, threats to international peace and security caused by terrorist acts.

Finally the members of the Council reiterated that no terrorist act can reverse the path towards Afghan-led peace, democracy and stability in Afghanistan, “which is supported by the people and the Government of Afghanistan and the international community.”