United Nations: Ambassador TS Tirumurti, President of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) for the month of August, has said that the situation in Afghanistan is a matter of deep concern to all members of the Security Council. He said that “we cannot allow terrorist camps to flourish again in Afghanistan and it will have a direct impact on India.” India, currently a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council for the term 2021-22, has assumed the presidency of the powerful UN body for the month of August.
“The situation in Afghanistan is a matter of deep concern to all members of the Security Council and we have seen the increasing violence in recent days,” Tirumurti said at the United Nations Headquarters on Monday. Speaking to reporters at the UN Headquarters, India’s Permanent Representative to the UN Tirumurti referred to a UN report which said that the casualties in Afghanistan during May-June exceeded the casualties between January and April. Is. Responding to a question about the situation in Afghanistan and what the Security Council can do to prevent further escalation of violence, Tirumurti said he hoped, “Probably the Security Council will look into this aspect with respect to Afghanistan very soon.” He said that as far as India is concerned, New Delhi has very clearly stated that “we want to see a free, peaceful, democratic and a stable Afghanistan. India has supported every opportunity that brings peace, security, and stability to Afghanistan.”
Tirumurti said, “We are convinced that… we must address the question of violence and targeted attacks and these are very serious concerns and all forms of violence must end. Linking with international terrorism should also end. We cannot allow terrorist camps to flourish in Afghanistan once again… and it will have a direct impact on India.” Tirumurti expressed concern that targeted attacks are on the rise and that women, girls, and minorities are being systematically targeted. He said a lasting political settlement through an inclusive Afghan-led, Afghan-owned, and Afghan-controlled process is of utmost importance. “It is also important for us to protect the gains we have made over the past 20 years,” he underlined.
The aspirations of Afghan women, youth, and minorities must be respected. Tirumurti said, “They need a secure and democratic future. I think this is where we believe that any government that comes to power in Afghanistan should be seen as a legitimate government in the eyes of the people. Peaceful dialogue must be taken seriously by all parties. What they are communicating needs to be accelerated.”
