United Nations, Aug 16 (Bureau) The international community should act to ensure an immediate end to violence in Afghanistan, India’s Permanent Representative to the UN, and the current president of the UNSC, T.S. Tirumurti said on Monday, adding that India, as a neighbour and friend, is greatly concerned about the current situation prevailing in that country. Addressing the UN Security Council, which held a special session on Afghanistan, Tirumurti also termed as unfortunate the scenes of desperate people trying to leave Kabul airport that were played out on social media and television.
He said that Afghan men, women and children are living under a constant state of fear, and are uncertain about their future. “Everyone is concerned about the increasing violations of the fundamental rights of the Afghan citizens. Afghans are worried about whether their right to live with dignity would be respected; there are many unanswered questions,” he added. “It is time for the international community, and in particular this Council, to act and ensure an immediate cessation of violence and contain any possible crisis and mitigate its consequences,” he said in his briefing. “As a neighbour of Afghanistan, and a friend of its people, the current situation prevailing in the country is of great concern to us in India. Afghan men, women and children are living under a constant state of fear, they are uncertain about their future, everyone is concerned about the increasing violations of the fundamental rights of the Afghan citizens.”
“We hope that the situation stabilises soon and the parties concerned address the humanitarian and security issues.” Referring to the scenes at Kabul airport, where people climbed on to a moving C-17 US Air Force plane as it took off, with some falling to their deaths, he said: “We have seen very unfortunate scenes at Hamid Karzai International Airport in Kabul, there is widespread panic among the people. Women and children are in distress. Incidents of firing have been reported from the city including the airport.”