8 Subh, Kabul: The European Union Delegation, NATO, and several Western delegations in Kabul have blamed the Taliban for most of the assassinations and targeted violence in the country, and called on the group to stop the violence to achieve peace.
In the joint statement of the EU, NATO, the diplomatic missions of Australia, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Sweden, Britain, and the United States, issued on Sunday, January 31, the spate of assassinations, abductions and destruction of vital infrastructures in the country were condemned.
The Taliban is responsible for the majority of such targeted violence, and their attacks undermine government institutions and provide a safe environment for terrorist groups to operate freely, the statement said. “The Taliban must understand that their violent and destructive actions are angering the world, and that violence must stop if peace is to be established in Afghanistan,” it continued.
Western missions in Kabul have said that they expect the Taliban to show their support for the people by ending the violence and stopping the destruction of vital infrastructure in a commitment to lasting peace for the benefit of all Afghans.
The statement also called on the government to investigate the targeted attacks and assassinations “more actively and transparently” to ensure that the perpetrators of such violence against people were identified and prosecuted.
According to the statement, the targeted assassinations and escalating violence have targeted civil, judicial, media, religious, medical, and civilian government representatives, who are essential to a peaceful and prosperous Afghanistan.
The delegations of Western countries and organizations in Kabul said that the international community had invested heavily in energy, food security, water resources, and road infrastructure, and that they condemned the ongoing destruction of critical infrastructure, like roads, power lines, and cell towers.
“These actions have no purpose other than harming the Afghan people, who are suffering from food insecurity, economic challenges, and significant underdevelopment, mainly due to decades of war, and the growing COVID-19 pandemic,” the statement said.
The delegations concluded by emphasizing that they stand alongside those committed to ending the war through a comprehensive political agreement that guarantees a sovereign, united, democratic country in a peaceful atmosphere at home and with its neighbors, and those who seek to protect human rights and the achievements of the last 19 years. These countries and organizations emphasized that they remain committed to helping the people of Afghanistan achieve peace, justice, and development.
In recent months, the rate of targeted violence and assassinations in Kabul city and provinces has increased dramatically. No group or individual has claimed responsibility for many of the assassinations and bombings in Kabul, but the government suspects that the Taliban are behind the attacks.
