The Islamic State militant group remains resilient in Afghanistan despite facing “a high pace” of operations by government and international forces, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has said.
In a report to the Security Council released Monday, Guterres said that 183 incidents were attributed to IS militants between mid-June and early September. That is nearly double the 93 incidents during the same period last year.
The report was prepared before US President Donald Trump abruptly cancelled peace talks with the Taliban.
It said that the US-Taliban talks strengthened efforts “to build a regional consensus on peace and have given rise to cautious optimism that a formal peace process may soon begin.”
He said that a peace process could only be sustained if it is inclusive, protects the rights of all Afghans, and is “grounded in a broad consensus.”
Guterres also reiterated call for direct talks between the Taliban and the Afghan government.
He called on the Taliban and IS “to desist from threatening or targeting electoral staff, candidates or voters,” and allow the Afghan people “to exercise their political rights in safety and without fear of violence.”
Guterres urged candidates not to make “spurious or sweeping allegations of fraud without sufficient evidence,” but to report serious allegation to appropriate authorities.
“Those who attempt or commit fraud must be held to account,” he said.
