The situation in Afghanistan is rapidly spiraling out of control, said Secretary-General Antonio Guterres.
The head of the World Organization called on the Taliban to immediately stop the offensive and begin negotiations in the interests of Afghanistan and its people.
“The message of the international community to those who have embarked on the path of war must be very clear: seizing power by military force is a losing enterprise. It can only lead to a protracted civil war or to the complete isolation of Afghanistan,” Guterres told reporters at headquarters. UN apartment in New York.
He expressed hope that the Doha talks between the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan and the Taliban would help restore the path to a peaceful settlement of the conflict.
The head of the UN reminded all parties to the conflict of their responsibilities to protect civilians. It is the civilian population that suffers the greatest losses due to hostilities, especially in urban areas, the Secretary General stressed.
Last month alone, more than a thousand people were killed and wounded in indiscriminate attacks on civilians in Afghanistan’s Helmand, Kandahar and Herat provinces.
“Attacking civilians is a serious violation of international humanitarian law, it is tantamount to a war crime. The perpetrators must be brought to justice,” Guterres said.