NEW YORK - The Secretary-General strongly condemns the horrific attack near a school in Kabul, Afghanistan, which killed and injured scores of civilians, including many girls.

The Secretary-General expresses his deepest sympathies to the families of the victims and to the Government and people of Afghanistan and wishes a speedy recovery to those injured. Those responsible for this heinous crime must be held accountable.

The Secretary-General underlines the urgency of ending the violence in Afghanistan and achieving a peaceful settlement of the conflict.