Afghanistan: UN strongly condemns deadly attacks against civilians in Kabul, Paktika

The suicide attack in the district of Urgun in Paktika, in which a vehicle packed with explosives detonated at a busy market, is said to have killed at least 43 civilians, including eight children, and injured at least 95 others.

The death toll makes it the worst single attack this year, the UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) said in a statement.

Ban strongly condemned the “despicable criminal act” and said such attacks, directed against civilians, are serious violations of international humanitarian law, according to his spokesperson.

His Special Representative for Afghanistan and head of UNAMA, Ján Kubiš, also decried the attack, highlighting its timing: “Today’s appalling attack during Ramadan – an occasion that should observed in a spirit of peace and compassion – should be condemned in the strongest possible terms and the perpetrators must be held accountable.”

The Mission noted that the Taliban denied their involvement in the attack and have stated they intend to investigate it.

Meanwhile, the Taliban has claimed responsibility for the attack on a shuttle bus carrying civilian government workers in the capital, Kabul. The insurgent group detonated a remote-controlled improvised explosive device (IED) against the bus, killing two people and injuring another five.

“This unlawful attack deliberately targeted civilians on their way to work,” said Kubiš. “Civilians should be able to go about their daily lives, including going to their place of work, without the risk of such horrific violence.”

The Mission and Ban expressed heartfelt condolences to those who have lost their loved ones in these attacks and wished a speedy recovery to those who have been injured.

UNAMA also reiterated that international humanitarian law, to which all parties to the armed conflict are bound, prohibits the use of indiscriminate and disproportionate tactics, in particular, improvised explosive devices.

Further, UNAMA renewed its call on the Taliban to immediately cease directing attacks on civilians, to stop the use of indiscriminate weapons and to halt attacks in civilian populated areas. It also highlighted that the use of illegal, indiscriminate IEDs may amount to a war crime.