ISLAMABAD: The United Nations Security Council has convened an emergency meeting for Friday (Aug 6) to discuss rising violence in Afghanistan, a senior diplomat said here on Wednesday.

The meeting was called after Afghan Foreign Minister Haneef Atmar spoke to India’s External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar in the wake of Taliban’s assault on major cities and an attack on the residence of Defence Minister Bismillah Mohammadi in Kabul.

The Afghan foreign minister had reportedly, during the conversation, sought a special meeting of the UNSC.

India, currently a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council, is holding the powerful body’s presidency for the month of August.

UNSC members would be briefed by FM Atmar and United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan’s chief Debrah Lyons during the session.

Published in Dawn, August 5th, 2021