ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has condemned “in the strongest terms” an attack on a Shi’ite mosque in the southern Afghan city of Kandahar that killed at least 35 people on Friday.
This is the second week in a row that militants bombed Friday prayers and killed dozens of worshippers from the minority sect. Daesh claimed a similar bombing that killed scores of Shi’ites in the northern city of Kunduz a week earlier.
“The Government and people of Pakistan convey their support, and heartfelt condolences, to the people of Afghanistan and stand in solidarity with them in this hour of grief,” the foreign office said. “Pakistan condemns terrorism in all its forms and manifestations, including despicable attacks on places of worship.”
The attacks have caused shock and terror among members of Afghanistan’s Shi’ite minority and undermine the ruling Taliban movement’s claim to have restored security since taking control of the country in August.
Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid said security forces had been ordered to capture the perpetrators and bring them to justice under Islamic law.
Fighters of Daesh have repeatedly targeted Shi’ites in the past with large-scale attacks intended to kill civilians, including one that killed scores of schoolgirls in a Shi’ite district of Kabul in May last year.
