UNSG calls on Taliban to stop terrorist attacks against Pakistan from Afghan soil

The Secretary-General of the United Nations, Antonio Guterres, called on the Afghan Taliban movement to work in order to prevent terrorist organizations from launching attacks on Pakistan, or any other neighboring country, from Afghan soil.

He explained that the organization is currently in discussions with Taliban in this regard.

Guterres said in response to a question from the UN correspondent about the escalating cross-border terrorist attacks launched by the Tehreek Taliban against Pakistan, which caused many casualties: “We consider it absolutely necessary for the Taliban movement (Afghanistan) not to allow any form of terrorist activity that may have an impact with respect to Pakistan, as it does with respect to any other country in the region.”

The UN official added in his press conference marking the end of the year: “There are many clear things that we believe that Taliban should present from the point of view of the interests of the international community and from the point of view of the interest of Afghanistan itself.”

“There is one thing they have to achieve in terms of integration into the power structures of Afghanistan,” Guterres said, stressing that all ethnic groups in the country must be represented.

He added, “The second aspect is related to human rights, especially the rights of women and girls, the right of women to work, and the rights of girls to attend schools at all levels without discrimination.”