ah 0 great with the. ready ready taliban fighters capture the southern city of the ranch, making it the 1st provincial capital to fall to the monster offensive and all the un security council meeting to discuss the escalating situation. and if not, i either can fidel, this is al jazeera, my from doha. also coming up israel father, back with artillery off the hezbollah launch is

a branch of rocket southern lebanon. wildfires. burn on the northern edge of athens for things thousands more people to flee from their homes. ah, we'll begin with breaking news in afghanistan. concepts the taliban has captured the southern city of the ranch, the 1st provincial capital for since the group began and offensive to take over territory. video released by the tele bomb shows them on the streets around the city reports just about 20000 people have fled across the border from numerals province into iran. well, i diplomatic editor james bass joins us now live from cobble. james, tell us what more about this, do we know? i mean the 1st provincial capital falling, that sounds fairly significant. very significant. i think yes, it's not the biggest place enough canister on. it's a desert province,

but it has now a city fallen to the taliban. we saw what happened through eye witnesses giving us that report. throughout the day the taliban took control of the main buildings the wrong. they took control the prison. they broke into the prison and let prisoners breakouts, including among them some taliban fighters. they also called on the governor to surrender. the governor appeared on facebook earlier on a defined video saying that he wasn't going to surrender. it was going to be there and they fight the taliban. when that's all about, i actually came to the governor's office. there was not a shot fired and we've seen videos now of taliban fighters in the governor's office taunting the governor saying you are going to fight us. where are you now? we are now in your office and i have to tell you, we don't know the fate right now of the governor or the other key provincial officials, but they control. we think most of the center of the raj, they control the airport. government forces probably somewhere out,

so i'm sorry to interrupt you. we're going live now over to the you and we will come back to james for now let's go live to un headquarters in new york. whereas we said the security council is discussing what's happening and i've gone astound. this is the us special representative for the secretary general in august on deborah lyons that's listed in for the opportunity of this special meeting on afghanistan and the opportunity to brief you today. it is particularly important because afghan, a stan is now at a dangerous turning point ahead lies either a genuine piece, negotiation or a tragically intertwined set of crises and increasingly brutal conflict combined with an acute humanitarian situation and multiplying human rights abuses. but today we have an opportunity, an opportunity to demonstrate the commitment of the un security council and the

regional and international community that you represent. to prevent afghan, a stan from descending into a situation of catastrophe. so serious that it would have few if any parallels in this century. and let me assure you, such a catastrophe, what have consequences far beyond the borders of afghanistan? i do believe that the security council and the broader international community can help prevent the most dire scenarios. but it will require acting in unity and acting quickly. it will require acting in the past week the warrant, ghana stan has entered a new, deadlier and more destructive phase. the taliban campaign during june and july to

capture rural areas, has achieved significant territorial gains from this strengthened position. they have begun to attack the larger cities. the provincial capitals of kandahar, harass, and alaska, gar, in particular, have come under significant pressure. this is a clear attempt by the taliban to seize urban centers with the force of arms. the human toll of this strategy is extremely distressing, and the political message is even more deeply disturbing regarding the human toe. let me provide you with some evidence. fighting has been especially severe in alaska. gar, the capital of hellman province. since 28th of july, just

a mere 10 days ago, at least a 104 civilians were killed. and 403 wandered as registered by the 2 main hospitals. ground engagements the narrow strikes are causing most of the civilian harm. oh, roads leading to and going out of the city are closed by the telephone. hospitals have nearly reached full capacity and can no longer accept patience. the available food supply in the city is vastly diminishing which raises the possibility of an acute food shortage in the coming days. as well as the shortage of medical supplies in kandahar since the started to be offensive there on the 9th of july, a month ago, more than 460 civilian casualties have been registered further to the west in and around to ranch you,

nama has credible reports of over a 135 civilian casualties from the onset of the taliban offensive. let me quickly summarize that just in these 3 cases. i am talking over a 100. pardon me, of over a 1000 casualties just in this last month. in addition, thomas hospital shops, bridges, and other infrastructure are being destroyed. in this dire situation, the un and humanitarian partners continue to be present to assess, of course, the need and where possible to deliver assistance, where we have the access. but this is becoming increasingly difficult. mr. president, this is now a different kind of war, reminiscent of syria recently are very able,

in the not so distant past to attack urban areas is to knowingly inflict enormous harm and cause massive civilian casualties. nonetheless, the threatening of large urban areas appears to be a strategic decision by the taliban, who have accepted the likely carnage that will ensue. afghanistan, national security and defense forces are defending the cities. but this defense will also undoubtedly caused civilian casualties. urban warfare will also inflict daily mysteries when basic infrastructure such as electricity and water networks are damaged. these tactics may amount to serious violation of international law for which individuals can be held accountable and

may quickly amount to more crimes and crimes against humanity. the suffering caused by war comes on top of an o. ready, increasing humanitarian crisis, with severe drought affecting the country. 18 point. 5000000 people for nearly half of the country's population is in need of humanitarian assistance. and yet, in the meantime, a tax on aid workers continue with more than 258 workers kill, and then over 60 injured in just the 1st 6 months of this year. mister president, for the past 3 years, members of the international community, including these members of this council. and you now have dealt with the taliban as a potential partner for peace. we have had numerous discussions with their

political representatives in doha aimed at ending the conflict. and finding a true political consensus, many of us have done this with some reservations, but with a relentless hope for the afghan people. we have accepted this in the name of peace that ordinary afghans so desperately need. there had been an expertise expectation when the u. s. taliban deal was signed in february of 2020. you will remember that we would see a reduction of violence. we did not. there had been an expert to expectation when the talks between the african republic and the taliban began in september of last year. that we would see a reduction of violence. we have not. there had been an expectation

that when international troops left, we would see a reduction of violence. we did not. instead, despite significant concessions for peace, we have seen a 50 percent, 50 percent increase in civilian casualties with the certainty of many more as the cities are attacks. there is a striking contrast between the activity on the battlefields and the quiet stalemate as a negotiation table in doha, where we should be seeing the opposite quiet on the battlefield. an engagement around the negotiating table. mister president, i have focused a day on the war against cities because a party that was genuinely committed to in a go shaded settlement would not risk so many civilian casualties.

because it would understand that the process of reconciliation will be more challenging. the more blood is shed, it would also recognise that they cannot risk the destruction of the infrastructure that would be badly needed to be rebuilt. the country once an agreement is reached, it should be made clear to the taliban political commission that the exemptions to the travel ban and the high protocol with wish they had been received by many of the countries were in fact, predicated on a commitment and progress in the peace process mister president, what is reportedly happening in areas under taliban control is also of great concern to us. it is heartbreaking to hear. for example, reports

a summary execution feedings and clamped down on media. radio stations in particular have stopped broadcasting. and of course, we also hear the fears voice to you, nama, by many afghan women. they tell us that they fear they will be killed if the taliban returned to power, simply because they worked for the government or an n g o. they fear they will not be able to have access to medical or educational services. these are the real concerns of people who are close to the edges of the taliban advance. but mr. president, let me be clear because i know that the taliban also pay attention to what we say in these sessions. i am reporting comments that have been express directly to us, not incidents that we have been fully able to confirm. we have also seen the

taliban denials, but these reports that we are receiving from ordinary afghans throughout the country are so consistent, so uniform and so urgent that we simply cannot wait for them to be proven people before bringing them to your attention. i would add that these fears seem also to be corroborated by the large numbers of people seeking to leave afghanistan. we expect both irregular and legal migration numbers to double this year. this increase logically must either be a response to the prospect of greater conflict or the desire to not live under taliban governance. mr. president, in speaking to afghans, the impression i have now is the population waiting

apprehensively for a dark shadow to pass over the bright futures. they once imagined it. it's difficult to me to describe the mood of dredge. we are faced with every day as one afghan put it to us recently. we are no longer talking about preserving the progress and the rights we have gained. we are talking about mere survival. another woman told us that she sometimes regrets that she had educated her daughter as that had put her daughter in a more vulnerable position. council members, mr. president, for all of us to our parents of daughters, i can hardly think of a more despondent comment. as can facing this coming darkness with

a sense of being abandoned by the regional and international community. they expect far greater and bit engagement and visible support from you. as the counsel mandated to maintain international peace and security. in this regard, your statement of the 4th of august condemning the attack against the un office and harass, was greatly appreciated by us for the show of support for you now more. but more importantly, for the call again, for an end the violence and a resumption of a meaningful piece process. this. so all a derek, a matters to afghans. they need to hear and see more of it inactions added in words. but mister president, there are also several important opportunities in the near future where our words and our actions could help bring an end to this war. next week there will be

meetings in doha, of a number of the special representatives, the chief countries, including a meeting of the extend detroit. and we, of course, we'll meet here again on the 10th of september for the regularly scheduled security council briefing on afghanistan. and so how can we use these opportunities to address the deteriorating situation that we face? first, the security council must issue an on ambiguous statement that attacks against cities must staff. now 2nd, those countries that meet with the taliban political commission should insist in these meetings on a general, the fire a resumption of the negotiations as well as reiterate the position of the security council and that of the regional and international communities that

a government imposed by force in afghanistan will not be recognized. 3rd, as i have already mentioned, the travel band exemption on taliban members exist to allow them to travel for the sole purpose of peace negotiations. the exemption is to be renewed on the 20th of september. further extension must be predicated on real progress on peace for the council. and those states who meet with the taliban must urge them to grant humanitarian access to areas it controls and commit to monitoring and see the fires in contested areas. if we will not agree to the general, the fire that truly the afghans really require. and at the same time, member stage should contribute to the severely underfunded humanitarian

humanitarian. a p appeal for afghanistan. this humanitarian appeal right now stands at only 30 percent funded. number 5, we need to put on notice the architects and perpetrators of the most serious violations of human rights. unanimous strongly supports greater efforts by the united nations and regional and international communities to find ways to hold the perpetrators accountable. 6, the council should give serious consideration to providing the united nations with a mandate that allows it to play when requested by both parties, a greater role in facilitating negotiations. mister president and members of the council, we will meet again to discuss afghan, a stand in little over

a month. but we cannot wait. these next weeks will be decisive. but i am absolutely convinced that whatever happens on the battlefield. what does the taliban take additional cities or whether the government regains districts? the result will only prolong afghanistan's agony. we as the members of the regional and international community so well represented here by this council, must put aside our own differences on the question of afghanistan and send a strong signal. not only in our public statement, but also in our bilateral communications with both parties. that is essential to stop fighting and negotiate in that order. otherwise there may be nothing left to win. thank you for this opportunity

that people about ghana stan are listening to us. ok, that was deborah lyons, the head of the un assistance mission in afghanistan, giving a very damning assessment there of the situation in afghanistan. next we're going to hear from the bar of stones independent human rights commission representative who's going to be speaking on the human rights situation in afghanistan. we heard earlier, this is a dangerous turning point for the country to pause one that leads to conflicts, a humanitarian crisis and human rights abuses another, an opportunity to prevent that catastrophe. obviously, some of the people taking part in this meeting are doing so over zoom as many of us do in this day and age. if you're technical difficulties, it seems there are 4 mis akbar joining this meeting. we're going to hear from

a number of speakers today. later on we'll hear from i've got a stones ambassador to the un, which we've also tuned in for as well. just to recap what was heard today. ms. lions there from the un assistance mission, talking about this being a different kind of war. akin to what we've seen in syria more recently, or sorry, a vote. before that. she also said that the taliban has accepted that carnage is likely to in few and has accepted that and its actions. so who are going to hear from next? who's obviously in person, there is a, i've got to start ambassador to the u. s. u n. a sex i let's, let's listen and i'm honored to make the statement on behalf of my foreign minister, his excellency mohammed, any farmer who very much wanted to be here with you, but could not travel due to travel to new york to short notice

allow me to 1st, congratulate india for assuming the presidency of the council and equally congratulate franz for successfully finishing it. his tenure. i would like to also thank government of india, norway, and estonia of the pin holders and the rest of the security council members and responding positively to the request to brief the council about the alarming developments. and i understand this meeting also highlights the security council's commitment to ensuring that the people of up on sun are able to live in peace, security, and dignity and shrine, than the charter of the united nations and the universal declaration of human rights and disregard. i should also like to welcome the security council statement of for august condemning the terrorist attack when you and compound in

iraq and the recent increase and the level of violence in the country. let me also thank if thought as g lyons for her thoughtful briefing and highlighting the alarming threat and serious concern about the situation. and i understand mister president, were compelled to ask for this urgent meeting at the situation in afghanistan have been rapidly deteriorating due to recent escalation of violence by the taliban, and the brutal military offensives on major cities and population centers in several provinces. in gross contradiction of the door, her peace agreement, the un security council resolution 2513 and of the regional and international consensus embodied in the extend detroit on the heart of asia. it's tumble process . the taliban have lunch, brutal, military offensive, already causing massive that destruction displacement and instability,

enough understanding beyond what is even more alarming. is there a tax on cities including condo, hot, iraq laska that as need chevron answer. and as of yesterday, and it was also confirmed by your receipt, millions of people are now vulnerable to indiscriminate shelling, that injuries, distraction, and displacement. our cities and public infrastructure, though we have rebuilt with your support over the past 2 decades, are now exposed to unimaginable level of taliban distraction. in this deliberate act of barbera ism, the taliban are not alone. and there are assisted by foreign fighters from trans national terrorist networks. together, they are threatening our peace, security, and stability, not only enough understand, but also in our region and beyond. it is our collective responsibility to stop

them from destroying upon this done and threatening the world community. the scale scope and timing of the military offensive as i can to an invasion, unprecedented in the last 30 years of our conflict. since mid april, the taliban and their affiliate foreign terrorist groups have launch more than $5500.00 attacks. in 31 of 34 provinces of these attacks have been launch would direct support of more than 10000 foreign fighters be presenting 20 groups including either l e t t t p i m u e t. i am an iso who entered our country and are fighting alongside taliban against our population of security forces. there's mounting evidence that the easter cosign islamic movement and islamic movement up was beckett's done, which have to pledge allegiance to iso for a long time pal upon in fire. yup. john john hart. and by the shawn provinces where

they are currently present with their families under taliban control, the link between taliban and these intern, transnational terrorists group is stronger today that then at any point in recent times, just as indicated numerous times by the function monitoring team of the un security council the taliban, contrary to their commitments and their daughter agreement have not broken ties with their regional and international terrorist organizations. in fact, these lengths are unbreakable, as they have been cultivated and built on shared ideology, interest and goals, and inter marriages which have been translated into joint attacks, logistical and materials support. the implication of allowing this network to continue to grow inside the country carried great security risk. not only for fun is done, but also for the why the region and even the world. this is

a shared risk and concern to all of us as they are not the taliban of the 21st century. coming from the isolated madras us. but the manifestation of the nexus between transnational terrorist networks and transnational criminal organizations. they're linked to drugs to smuggling, to robbing of our natural resources is unprecedented. and those who encourage and participate with them of course, are the beneficiaries. therefore, this is not a civil war, but a war of criminal life and terrorist networks fought on the back of afghans. importantly, the taliban continue to enjoy a safe haven in supply and logistic line extended to their war machine from pakistan. graphic reports and video of parliament fighters congregating close to the urine line to enter upon the sun. fundraising events, transfer of the bodies for mass burials and treatment of injured taliban and

pakistani hospitals are emerging and are widely available. this is not only a naked violation of the 1988 you and security to counter risk function regime, but also leads to further erosion of trust and confidence towards establishing a collaborative relationship with pakistan to war 2 in the war in afghanistan. consistent with the agreement of the leadership of upon a stand in pakistan in tosh can last month. we urge pakistan to help with removing and dismantling of taliban sanctuaries and supply line and established with us a joint monitoring and verification mechanism to make the fight against terrorism. and international effort for peace, effective, and credible. let me read to reiterate here that upon a stand desired nothing but friendly relation and peaceful coexistence with pakistan based on mutual respect for each other. sovereignty. mister president,

were alarmed by reports and incidents, the gross human rights violation by the taliban and their foreign terrorist associate in almost half of our country. and we are extremely concerned about the safety and security of people in cities under taliban attacks. and what brutality would await them. i'm glad to see mister shalt act better. chairwoman of the afghan independent human rights commission to should for the light on this. but shocking and heart wrenching images and videos of taliban brutality and cruelties against civilian population. and people suspected of working for the government and international forces are emerging in social media, which are too graphic to even describe them. in my statement here. suicide bombings, summary, execution, revenge, killing stoning to that chopping of hands, flogging of children.