A/RES/53/203 A-B Page 2 Convinced that there is no military solution to the Afghan conflict and that only a political settlement aimed at the establishment of a broad-based, multi-ethnic and fully representative government acceptable to the Afghan people can lead to peace and reconciliation, Stressing the importance of non-intervention and non-interference in the internal affairs of Afghanistan, and deeply concerned at all forms of continued external support, which is causing the prolongation and intensification of the conflict, Expressing its grave concern at the failure of all Afghan parties, in particular the Taliban, to put an end to the conflict, which seriously threatens stability and peace in the region, and strongly condemning the sharp escalation of this conflict and the intensification of the fighting in Afghanistan, which add to the enormous suffering of the Afghan people, resulting in the massive loss of human life, refugee flows, killing, harassment, the forcible displacement of innocent civilians and extensive destruction, and seriously threaten stability and peace in the region, Also expressing its grave concern at persistent violations of human rights and breaches of international humanitarian law in Afghanistan, as exemplified by reports of mass killings and atrocities committed by combatants against civilians and prisoners of war, Further expressing its grave concern at the continuing and substantiated reports of systematic discrimination against girls and women, particularly in areas controlled by the Taliban, Deeply concerned by the increasingly ethnic nature of the conflict, by reports of persecution on the grounds of ethnic origin and religious persuasion, in particular against the Shiites, and by the threat this poses to the unity of the Afghan State, Strongly condemning the armed attacks against United Nations personnel in territories controlled by the Taliban, in which United Nations staff members were murdered or injured, Also strongly condemning the capture by Taliban militia of the Consulate-General of the Islamic Republic of Iran in Mazar-e Sharif and the killing of diplomatic and consular personnel of the ConsulateGeneral and the correspondent of the Islamic Republic News Agency, and stressing that these unacceptable acts constitute violations of the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations1 and the Vienna Convention on Consular Relations,2 Deeply disturbed by the continuing use of Afghan territory for the sheltering and training of terrorists as well as for the cultivation, production and trafficking of drugs, and by the dangerous repercussions of these activities, which reach Afghanistan’s neighbours and far beyond, Reiterating that the United Nations, as a universally recognized and impartial intermediary, must continue to play the central role in international efforts towards a peaceful resolution of the Afghan conflict, 1 United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 500, No. 7310. 2 Ibid., vol. 596, No. 8638. /...