Afghanistan Foreign Minister Mohammed Hanif Atmar spoke to External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar to explore the possibility of convening an emergency session of the UN Security Council (UNSC) to discuss ways to stop the Taliban's violence and human rights abuses in Afghanistan. The Afghan foreign ministry said Atmar talked about the escalating violence by the Taliban and foreign terrorist groups in Afghanistan and called for a meeting of the UNSC to discuss the situation. "Called Indian FM HE @DrSJaishankar to discuss convening an emergency UN Security Council Session on AFG," Atmar said on Twitter. "UN & int'l community must play a greater role to stop the unfolding tragedy in Afghanistan due to Taliban violence & atrocities. Appreciate the lead role of India as current UNSC President," he said.
The Taliban has made massive advances in the country. On Tuesday, it looked like the militant group was targeting the Afghanistan defence minister. In the Afghan capital of Kabul on Tuesday, scores of people waving the Afghan flag and shouting 'god is great' came out to the streets in support of Afghanistan's National Security and Defence Forces. They came out even as a powerful explosion rattled the city. A powerful explosion rocked an upscale neighbourhood of Afghanistan's capital Tuesday in an attack that apparently targeted the country's acting defence minister. At least 10 people were wounded.
In southern Afghanistan, Taliban captured nine out of 10 districts of the Helmand provincial capital. Lashkar Gah is one of three provincial capitals under siege by the Taliban as they stepped up their onslaught against government forces. In recent months the Taliban swept through dozens of districts across the country, many in remote and rural, sparsely populated areas. Afghan troops in those battles often surrendered or pulled out with barely a fight, frequently lacking re-supplies and reinforcements. Over the past weeks, the Taliban have also captured several lucrative border crossings with Iran, Pakistan and Tajikistan.
In the Afghan capital of Kabul on Tuesday scores of people waving the Afghan flag and shouting God is great came out to the streets in support of Afghanistan's National Security and Defence Forces. They came out even as a powerful explosion rattled the city. No one took immediate responsibility. A powerful explosion rocked an upscale neighbourhood of Afghanistan's capital Tuesday in an attack that apparently targeted the country's acting defence minister. At least 10 people were wounded, a health official said.
