Kabul, 14 August 2021 (TDI): On Friday, António Guterres, Secretary-General of the United Nations, held a press conference in which he addressed the dire situation of Afghanistan.
The UN Secretary-General stated that Afghanistan is in the midst of yet another chaotic chapter. He expressed concerns over the harsh restrictions imposed by the Taliban in provinces under their control, notably targeting women and journalists. He further added that more than 1,000 Afghan people have been killed or injured in indiscriminate Taliban attacks in the last month. The combat between the Taliban and Afghan security forces in urban areas is wreaking havoc. He believed that talks between representatives of the Afghan government and the Taliban in Doha, Qatar, will reopen the door to a peaceful settlement of the conflict. He went on to say that the UN is resolved to contribute to such a settlement.
In the end, the UN Secretary-General urged the international community to reconsider its legal and moral responsibility by taking all necessary precautions to safeguard the Afghan people. He also urged the Taliban to halt their offensive and engage in serious negotiations for Afghanistan.
