ISLAMABAD: Five years into the country’s most heart-wrenching terrorist attack, in which the Taliban murdered 149 people, most of them schoolchildren, Pakistani leaders vow to never forget the victims and the way they died.
On Dec. 16, 2014, Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) gunmen entered the Army Public School (APS) in Peshawar, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, and opened fire on students and teachers, killing 132 children and 17 school staff.
On the fifth anniversary of the APS attack, parents held candlelit vigils in Peshawar to remember the victims.
Special prayers were also offered in different parts of the city to remember the carnage.
The army-run school that came under terrorist attack displayed a huge banner carrying photos of the students killed in the attack and held a special prayer ceremony.
President Arif Alvi said the nation must not forget “the massacre of little angels” and teachers. It is “hard to commemorate this day without tears in one’s eyes. In its remembrance, we reiterate our pledge to root out terrorism and extremism in all its manifestations from our country,” he said in a tweet on Monday.
“Today, we remember and pray for the survivors and victims of APS Peshawar incident. The blood of the innocent united the nation against all forms of extremism, terrorism, violence and hatred,” Prime Minister Imran Khan said in a statement.
While paying tribute to young martyrs, the premier also honored the sacrifices of the country’s security forces “in the fight against the scourge of terrorism.”
“We pledge on this day not to allow any militant mindset to take our country and the nation hostage to its bigoted vision,” Khan said.
The Pakistan Army’s media wing, Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), quoted Army Chief Gen. Qamar Javed Bajwa as saying “the APS carnage will never be forgotten. Five of the involved terrorists have been hanged through military courts. Salute to martyrs and their families.”
“We have come a long way in failing terrorism as a nation. United we move toward lasting peace and prosperity of Pakistan,” the Twitter post by the ISPR said.
Pakistan remembers lives lost in 2014 Peshawar school massacre
https://arab.news/p746j
Pakistan remembers lives lost in 2014 Peshawar school massacre
- PM says the blood of the innocent united the nation against all forms of extremism
- Army Public School carnage will never be forgotten, says army chief
Pakistan joins 22 Muslim states, OIC to condemn Israeli FM’s visit to Somaliland
- Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar visited breakaway African region of Somaliland on January 6
- Muslim states urge Israel to withdraw Somaliland recognition, respect Somalia’s sovereignty
ISLAMABAD: A joint statement by Pakistan, 22 other Muslim states and the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) on Thursday condemned Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar’s recent visit to Somaliland as a violation of the African nation’s territorial integrity and sovereignty.
Saar’s visit to Somaliland capital Hargeisa on Jan. 6 followed Israel’s move last month to recognize Somaliland, a breakaway region from Somalia, as an independent country. The move drew a sharp reaction from Muslim states, including Pakistan, who said it was in contravention of the UN Charter and international norms.
Several international news outlets months earlier reported that Israel had contacted Somaliland over the potential resettlement of Palestinians forcibly removed from Gaza. Muslim countries fear Israel’s recognition of the breakaway region could be part of its plan to forcibly relocate Palestinians from Gaza to the region.
“The said visit constitutes a clear violation of the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the Federal Republic of Somalia, and undermines established international norms and the United Nations Charter,” the joint statement shared by Pakistan’s foreign office, read.
The joint statement was issued on behalf of 23 Muslim states, including Saudi Arabia, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Egypt, Iraq, Iran, Palestine, Jordan, Kuwait, Türkiye, Oman and others.
It reaffirmed support for Somalia’s territorial integrity and sovereignty, pointing out that respect for international law and non-interference in the internal affairs of sovereign states was necessary for regional stability.
“Encouraging secessionist agendas are unacceptable and risk exacerbating tensions in an already fragile region,” the statement said.
The joint statement urged Israel to revoke its recognition of the breakaway region.
“Israel should fully respect Somalia’s sovereignty, national unity and territorial integrity and honor its obligations in compliance with international law, and demand immediate revocation of the recognition issued by Israel,” the statement read.
Somaliland broke away from Somalia unilaterally in 1991 as a civil war raged in the country. Somaliland has its own constitution, parliament and currency, a move that has infuriated Somalia over the years as it insists the region is part of its territory.
