NEW YORK, 08 August 2021, (TON): The top UN official in Afghanistan appealed to the Security Council to act now to avert a catastrophe in the war-torn country.

Pakistan, while acknowledging the growing concern over Afghanistan, warned the world body not to allow India to project a distorted picture during its presidency of the UN Security Council (UNSC). India called Friday’s special session to consider the situation in Afghanistan. India took over the council’s presidency this week for the month of August.

UN Special Representative Deborah Lyons pointed out that Taliban militants were now targeting major cities and the situation in the country was reminiscent of the Syrian and Balkan wars.

“Afghanistan is now at a dangerous turning point,” Ms Lyons, who heads the UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) told the council.

She warned “Ahead lies either a genuine peace negotiation or a tragically intertwined set of crises: an increasingly brutal conflict combined with an acute humanitarian situation and multiplying human rights abuses.”