ISLAMABAD: The United Nations Security Council has condemned in the strongest terms the heinous and cowardly terrorist suicide bombing attack at a mosque in Kohat, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Province, Pakistan, on Sept 18, said a statement issued by UNSC President Jérôme Bonnafont on Wednesday.
According to the statement, the UNSC members underlined the need to hold perpetrators, organizers, financiers and sponsors of these reprehensible acts of terrorism accountable and bring them to justice, and urged the states to cooperate with the government of Pakistan in this regard.
At least 24 Pakistanis, including 7 civilians and 17 law enforcement personnel, were martyred and another 88 injured in a suicide attack on a mosque in the southern district of Kohat in Pakistan’s northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province.
A terrorist group, including affiliates that have been linked to the proscribed Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), claimed responsibility for the terrorist attack.
“The members of the Security Council expressed their deepest sympathy and condolences to the families of the victims and to the Government and the people of Pakistan and wish a speedy and full recovery to those who were injured,” said the UNSC statement.
It added that members of the Security Council reaffirmed that terrorism in all its forms and manifestations constitutes one of the most serious threats to international peace and security.
The statement further said that the UNSC members underlined the need to hold perpetrators, organizers, financiers and sponsors of these reprehensible acts of terrorism accountable and bring them to justice.
“They urged all states, in accordance with their obligations under international law and relevant Security Council resolutions, to cooperate actively with the Government of Pakistan in this regard,” the statement maintained.
The UNSC members reiterated that any acts of terrorism are criminal and unjustifiable, regardless of their motivation, wherever, whenever and by whomsoever committed.
They reaffirmed the need for all states to combat, by all means, in accordance with the Charter of the United Nations and other obligations under international law, including international human rights law, international refugee law and international humanitarian law, threats to international peace and security caused by terrorist acts.