New York: With the COVID-19 impacting war-torn Afghanistan continuing to take a heavy toll of lives, United Nations Security Council has called on all warring factions in Afghanistan to heed the UN Secretary-General’s call for an immediate ceasefire and ensure delivery of humanitarian aid throughout the country.

The Council issued a statement on March 31 after a closed briefing by UN deputy special representative Ingrid Hayden who said the country “appears to be reaching a defining moment” — whether its feuding leaders can join together “to engage in meaningful talks with the Taliban to achieve a sustainable peace.”

“The choice is made stark by the all-encompassing threat of COVID-19, which poses grave dangers to the health of Afghanistan’s population and, potentially, to the stability of its institutions,” she said in remarks sent to UN correspondents.

Afghan President Ashraf Ghani and political opponent Abdullah Abdullah have been locked in a power struggle since last September’s election, and both declared themselves president and held parallel inauguration ceremonies in early March.

The discord has prompted the Trump administration to say it would cut $1 billion in assistance to Afghanistan if the two can’t work out their differences.