China, US, UN, Afghanistan, Japan, Russia, S Arabia condemn killings; Pope calls attack ‘hideous’, demands protection for Christians: Ashraf Ghani, Tayyip Erdogan phone Nawaz, condole casualties
ISLAMABAD: Wide range of condemnations and heartfelt grievances on the gory incident of suicide attack that claimed 72 lives and injuring over 300 in Lahore Gulshen-e-Iqbal Park continued to pour in throughout the day on Monday.
In a statement, China strongly condemned the terrorist attack in Lahore in which scores of precious lives were lost besides injured to others. A spokesperson of the Chinese Foreign Ministry said that they were deeply shocked and saddened by the incident in Lahore which caused heavy casualties.”We condemn the brutal terrorist attack in the strongest terms,” a message received here Monday quoted the spokesperson as saying.
The Chinese government also expressed deep condolences and conveyed its heartfelt sympathy to the injured and the bereaved families. China will stand with the Pakistani people at this difficult time and continue to support the Pakistani government and the people in their unremitting efforts to fight terrorism and safeguard stability of the country and security of the people, it added.
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA: The United States have expressed its deepest condolences to the families of those killed in Lahore bomb blast on Sunday and said it would continue to work with Pakistan to combat terrorism.
Condemning the appalling terrorist attack in the strongest term a statement from the US State department said that US stands with the people and Government of Pakistan at this difficult hour.
We send our deepest condolences to the loved ones of those killed and injured and our thoughts prayers are with the people of Lahore as they respond to and recover from this terrible tragedy the statement said.
Attacks like these only deepen our shared resolve to defeat terrorism around the world the statement said and added we will continue to work with our partners in Pakistan and across the region to combat terrorism.
Ranking member of the House Committee on Foreign Affairs of the Congress Representative Eliot L Engel also expressed his strong condemnation of the attack in a statement issued in Washington. I am outraged by the terrorist attack today at Gulshan-e-Iqbal Park and heartbroken over the senseless loss of life. I can think of nothing more cowardly or reprehensible than targeting children with violence, Congressman Engel said.
He said these attacks underscore the ongoing threat that terrorists pose to the region stability and prosperity of Pakistan. I offer my deepest condolences to the victims of the attack and their families.
The Council of Pakistan American Affairs a US-based organization of the Pakistani Americans said it was deeply saddened by the loss of innocent lives in Lahore. Our heart goes out to the victim’s families and our prayers are with them in this hour of need the group said in a statement.
Condemning the barbaric attack which at least killed 71 people including women and children the Council said that it was a sad day in the history of the historic city of Lahore. It is evident that now more than ever we must work together to counter extremism. Our heavy hearts are with the families of the victims the Council said.
UNITED NATIONS: Top United Nations officials have strongly condemned Sunday’s terrorist bombing at Gulshan-e-Iqbal Park in Lahore extending condolences to the victims and their families while expressing solidarity with the people and Government of Pakistan.
A statement issued by Secretary General Ban Ki moon’s spokesperson calls for the perpetrators of this appalling terrorist act to be brought swiftly to justice consistent with human rights obligations.
The UN chief underlined the need to do utmost in putting in place protective measures to ensure the personal security of all individuals including religious minority communities living in the country.
In a statement the President of UN General Assembly Mogens Lykketoft said “The targeting of so many innocent people including many families shows an utter contempt for humanity. My thoughts are with the families of the victims the many wounded the police and emergency services dealing with the aftermath of this violent act and the Government and people of Pakistan.” “Acts of terrorism are unjustifiable regardless of their motivation and terrorism in all its forms and manifestations constitutes one of the most serious threats to national and international peace and security. Acts like this have no place in the modern world and only serve to strengthen the resolve of governments the world over to find and prosecute the individuals responsible.”
AFGHANISTAN: Afghan President Ashraf Ghani Monday telephoned Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and condoled the loss of lives in Sunday’s terrorist attack in Lahore.
According to a PM House statement the Afghan President condemned the cowardly act of terrorists. PM Nawaz told Afghan President that military operation Zarb-e-Azb and the National Action Plan would continue unabated until the scourge of terrorism was eliminated from Pakistan.
The terrorist are on the run. Therefore they are now targeting soft targets like children and women. Terrorism has become a serious global challenge. Unfortunately your country is also faced with this menace the Prime Minister remarked. Nawaz Sharif said the scourge of terrorism and extremism had to be countered with coordinated efforts at regional and international levels.
JAPAN: Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe Monday strongly condemned the terror attack in Lahore on Sunday and expressed his support to Pakistan in its fight against terrorism.
Japan strongly condemns this terror attack and expressed his support to the Government and the people of Pakistan fighting against terrorism, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said in his message of condolence to Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, according to a statement of the Japanese embassy here.
He said the terrorist attack in Lahore targeted general citizens and caused numerous deaths including women and children. Shinzo Abe expressed condolences and sympathy to all victims of the terrorist attack.
Fumio Kishida Minister for Foreign Affairs of Japan also sent his message of condolence and support to Sartaj Aziz Advisor to the Prime Minister on Foreign Affairs to express his condolences.
RUSSIA: Russian President Vladimir Putin has condemned the Lahore blast and expressed sympathies with the bereaved families. In his condolence messages to President Mamnoon Hussain and Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif he said Lahore incident is a barbaric act against the humanity.
The Russian President said his country supports Pakistan’s efforts against terrorism. He stressed the need for joint efforts at international and regional levels to counter terrorism.
VATICAN CITY: Pope Francis on Monday condemned the Easter suicide bomb by Islamist militants that killed at least 70 people in Pakistan, many of them Christians, as “hideous” and demanded that the country’s authorities protect religious minorities.
Addressing thousands of people in St. Peter’s Square on Easter Monday, a religious holiday, the Pope said Pakistan had been “bloodied by a hideous attack that massacredso many innocent people, mostly families of the Christian minority”.
The pope, speaking from the window of the Vatican’s Apostolic Palace to crowds in the square below, called the Sunday evening attack in a busy park in Lahore, “a vile and senseless crime”. “I appeal to civil authorities and all sectors of that nation to make every effort to restore security and serenity to the population, and in particular to the most vulnerable religious minorities,” he said.
Pope Francis said he also prayed that God would "stop the hands of the violent ones who sow terror and death".
SAUDI ARABIA: Ambassador of Saudi Arabia Abdullah Marzouk Al Zahrani Monday expressed deep sense of grief and sorrow over the tragedy that befell Lahore Sunday evening.
During a call on meeting with Finance Minister Senator Ishaq Dar here the Ambassador conveyed deep sentiments of sympathy and compassion from the leadership and people of Saudi Arabia for the leadership and people of Pakistan as well as the bereaved families. He said Saudi Arabia stands by Pakistan in this hour of grief according to press statement issued by Finance Ministry.
Abdullah Marzouk Al Zahrani said that Saudi Arabia fully supported Pakistan’s efforts in eliminating militancy and extremism.
TURKEY: Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan telephoned Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and conveyed his deepest condolences on the loss of precious lives in Lahore terror attack. The Prime Minister told the Turkish President that terrorism has become a serious global challenge and Turkey is also facing this menace. Nawaz Sharif reiterated Pakistan’s condemnation of terrorist attacks in Turkey including the recent one in Ankara.
Meanwhile, UN Resident Coordinator and Kingdom of Saudi Arabia’s ambassador in Pakistan held meeting with Finance Minister Ishaq Dar separately and expressed grief and sorrow over the loss of lives in Lahore blast.
UN Resident Coordinator and UNDP Resident Representative in Pakistan, Neil Buhne, called on Finance Minister Ishaq Dar. Neil Buhne at the outset of the meeting conveyed message from the UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon for Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, expressing grief and sorrow over the loss of lives in the blast that occurred in Lahore on Sunday.
In a separate meeting, Ambassador of Saudi Arabia Abdullah Marzouk Al Zahrani called on Dar. The Saudi Ambassador expressed deep sense of grief and sorrow over the tragedy.