UN condemns Kabul University attack

Expressing serious concern over the attack on the American University of Afghanistan that killed 16 people, including eight students, the UN Security Council has said nations must bring financiers and sponsors of the "reprehensible" acts of terrorism to justice.

The 15-nation council "condemned in the strongest terms" the "heinous and cowardly" terrorist attack on August 24 in Kabul, targeting students of the American University of Afghanistan.

The attack resulted in the death of 16 people, including eight students from the university, and 50 people injured, including 36 students.

In a press statement issued here yesterday, the council reaffirmed their "serious concern" at the threats posed by the taliban, al-Qaeda, Islamic State and illegal and armed groups to the local population, National Defence and Security Forces and the international presence in Afghanistan.

"The members of the Security Council underlined the need to bring perpetrators, organisers, financiers and sponsors of these reprehensible acts of terrorism to justice, and urged all states to cooperate actively with the Afghan authorities in this regard," the statement said.

The council also stressed the need to take measures to prevent and suppress the financing of terrorism, terrorist organisations and individual terrorists.

Expressing condolences to the victims and the Afghan government, the council said terrorism in all its forms and manifestations is "criminal" and "unjustifiable" and should not be associated with any religion, nationality, civilisation or ethnic group.

The council reiterated that no violent or terrorist acts can reverse the Afghan-led process along the path towards peace, democracy and stability in Afghanistan.

The UN mission in Afghanistan also condemned the attack, calling for those responsible to be brought to justice.

"An attack deliberately targeting an educational facility, during evening classes for university students, is an atrocity and those responsible must be held accountable," Pernille Kardel, the Secretary-General's Deputy Special Representative for Afghanistan and Acting Head of the UN Assistance Mission there, known as UNAMA, said in a statement.

The attack began with the detonation of a suicide vehicle-borne improvised explosive device at a gate of the American University of Afghanistan, after which two gunmen entered the compound during the busy evening class period.

"The country's youth are a source of pride and bring real hope for a better future," Kardel said, adding that she is hopeful that "violence will not discourage their desire for continued learning and attaining the knowledge and skills critical to Afghanistan's prosperity."