'Heinous and cowardly': UNSC condemns Kohat terrorist attack, calls for accountability for perpetrators, sponsors

The United Nations Security Council (UNSC) on Wednesday condemned last week’s terrorist attack in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s Kohat district, calling for the perpetrators and sponsors of the attack to be held accountable. At least 23 people were killed in the September 18’s deadly two-pronged assault , including 17 policemen and six civilians. After detonating an explosives-laden vehicle near a mosque in old Police Lines during Friday prayers, terrorists stormed the compound and attacked police facilities. KP police said eight terrorists were killed in retaliatory action by police and security forces. A UNSC statement issued by Council President Jérôme Bonnafont, representing France, strongly condemned the “heinous and cowardly” suicide bombing at a mosque.

UNSC member states expressed sympathy and condolences to the families of the victims and the government, and wished the injured a swift recovery. Member states stressed that “terrorism in all its forms and manifestations constitutes one of the most serious threats to international peace and security”. According to the statement, UNSC members underscored the need to hold the “perpetrators, organisers, financiers and sponsors” accountable and urged all states to cooperate with Pakistan in the matter. The UNSC held that any act of terrorism was “criminal and unjustifiable, regardless of [its] motivation, wherever, whenever and by whomsoever committed”. The Security Council “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”. The attack was claimed…