ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s foreign office on Tuesday warned Islamabad faces a persistent threat from “terrorist elements” from across the border, as the country marked the 11th anniversary of the 2014 Army Public School (SPS) terror attack in Peshawar.
On Dec.16, 2014, gunmen affiliated with the Pakistani Taliban (TTP) stormed the APS campus in northwestern Peshawar city, killing over 150 people including more than 130 children in an hours-long siege that shocked the nation and drew international condemnation. The attack which specifically targeted students and staff, remains a defining moment in Pakistan’s fight against militancy.
Pakistan has faced a surge in militant attacks since 2022, following the end of a ceasefire by the TTP. The worst-affected areas include provinces bordering Afghanistan, with Khyber Pakhtunkhwa frequently targeted by the TTP and Balochistan facing attacks from the separatist Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA). Islamabad accuses India of backing militant networks operating from Afghanistan involved in the attacks. New Delhi and Kabul deny the allegations.
“At the same time, Pakistan faces a persistent threat from terrorist elements operating from across the border, with sustained support from our adversaries,” Pakistan’s foreign office said in a statement.
It said Islamabad has consistently drawn the world’s attention to this problem and has also taken measures to prevent “terrorism” from spilling over into Pakistani territory.
“This unrefuted reality underscores the urgent need for concrete action to dismantle terrorist sanctuaries and to cut off all forms of support to all terrorist groups, including those targeting Pakistan,” the statement added.
The foreign office said the sacrifice rendered by the children in 2014 stood as a symbol of Pakistan’s resolve to confront and defeat militancy in all its forms.
It highlighted that Pakistan, being the hardest-hit country from “terrorism” globally, has lost around 90,000 lives and borne high economic and social costs.
“In doing so, Pakistan has acted as a bulwark against the spread of terrorism beyond its borders, contributing significantly to the security and stability of the wider region and beyond,” the foreign office added.
Pakistan’s President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif remembered the sacrifices of the school children and teachers who lost their lives in the attack.
“Their sacrifice remains a constant reminder of our collective responsibility to defeat terrorism,” Sharif said in a post on X.
“The Pakistani nation will always stand united, firm and unwavering in its resolve to eradicate the scourge of terrorism.”
Zardari said Pakistan’s resolve against militancy remained unwavering, stressing that there was “no soft corner for terrorists or those who support, finance, shelter, or justify them.”
The president also condemned what he described as ongoing Indian-sponsored militancy in Pakistan, saying Islamabad would continue to expose hostile activities and defend its people, an allegation New Delhi has consistently denied.
The APS massacre had triggered a nationwide crackdown on extremist groups, leading to major military operations aimed at dismantling militant networks and curbing violent extremism.
The attack remains one of the deadliest assaults on students worldwide and continues to influence Pakistan’s domestic security policies and public debate on counterterrorism, school safety, and extremism.
