ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s foreign office on Saturday condemned a terrorist attack near a girls’ school in Afghanistan that killed at least 30 people, many of them students between 11 and 15 years of age.
Describing the attack as “reprehensible,” the foreign office offered “heartfelt condolences to the Government and the people of Afghanistan” and prayed for quick recovery of the injured.
“Pakistan condemns terrorism in all forms and manifestations,” it said in an official statement. “At this moment of grief, Pakistan stands by Afghan brethren in their struggle against the scourge of terrorism. Pakistan will continue to support Afghanistan on its path to peace, progress and prosperity.”
Meanwhile, the Taliban condemned the deadly bomb blast outside the school and denied any responsibility.
The insurgent group in recent months has intensified attacks against the Afghan security forces, making regional actors urge its leadership to abandon battlefield tactics to create a more conducive environment for intra-Afghan peace talks.
The United States already began a formal troop withdrawal in the beginning of this month, and it is likely to finish the process by the 20th anniversary of September 11 this year.
Saturday’s bombing also raised concern of increasing security deficit in Afghanistan, especially in the context of a pullout of international forces.
