ISLAMABAD: Pakistan on Friday extended its condolences to the government and people of Egypt after a tragic train accident took place in the southern part of the Arab state, killing 32 people and injuring 165.
According to details, the incident took place when unknown people pulled the emergency brakes of a train that was headed toward the Mediterranean port city of Alexandria and was hit by another train from behind after it came to a standstill.
A Reuters story quoted unnamed security officials as saying that the two trains were not going at very high speeds, though the collision "led to the destruction of two carriages and (caused) a third to overturn."
"Pakistan stands in solidarity with brotherly Egypt in this hour of grief," said an official statement issued by the country's foreign office in Islamabad. "We offer our prayers for the lives lost and wish speedy recovery to those injured in the accident. We also wish that Allah Almighty grants patience and forbearance to the bereaved families."
Pakistan has paid significant attention to its ties with Egypt in recent months.
The country's foreign minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi went on a two-day visit to the Arab country and met with President Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi.
He acknowledged that Egypt was an "important member of the Muslim ummah," and described it as the "gateway to Africa."
Qureshi added it was the policy of the incumbent administration to strengthen its ties with the African continent, adding that it was a diplomatic arena Pakistan had not "fully explored."
The foreign minister's visit was followed by the official tour of Pakistan's religious affairs minister Pir Noorul Haq Qadri who attended a conference in Cairo on religious harmony and discussed Islamophobia with the Grand Sheikh of al-Azhar to devise practical steps to deal with the problem.
