Washington: The US has strongly condemned the terrorist attacks on a popular university in Pakistan and on mediapersons in the Afghan capital Kabul, saying the incidents underscore the threat to peace and prosperity in the region.
“These reprehensible attacks, against students and teachers in Pakistan and members of the media in Afghanistan, underscore the ongoing threat that terrorists pose to the region and to the peaceful and prosperous future we seek to build together,” said Ned Price, spokesperson of the National Security Council, the White House.
“We offer our deepest condolences to the victims of the attacks and to their families, and we stand with the people of the region against all forms of extremism and terrorism.”
Describing yesterday’s attack on Peshawar’s Bacha Khan University, named after the iconic Khan Abdul Ghaffar Khan, as appalling, State Department Deputy Spokesman Mark Toner said the terrorists clearly targeted Pakistan’s future generations.
“The United States stands with the Government of Pakistan and their efforts to create a secure, stable, and prosperous country, and we will stand side by side with Pakistan in its ongoing fight against terrorism,” Toner told reporters.
Heavily-armed militants had stormed the university, firing indiscriminately on students and teachers. 20 people – 18 students, a professor and a staffer – died in the attack.
Responding to a question, Toner said the US is concerned about the ongoing threat of terrorist outfits in Pakistan.
“We’ve said many, many times that no one suffers more from terrorism than the people of Pakistan, the Government of Pakistan, and we’re committed to working with them to address how we can combat these terrorist threat, whether it’s ISS or other groups that are active still in Pakistan, rather, going forward,” he said.
The US stands with the government and people of Pakistan and their efforts to create a secure, stable, and prosperous country, and we will stand side-by-side with Pakistan in its fight against terrorism,” he said.
In Afghanistan, seven employees of popular Afghan TV channel TOLO were killed when a suicide car bomber rammed into their minibus.
At least 25 other people were wounded in the bombing near the Russian embassy in downtown Kabul – the first major attack on an Afghan media organisation since the Taliban were ousted from power in 2001.
Afghan security forces are developing the capacity and capability to confront the challenges posed by terrorism.
“Ultimately, we feel that the best way forward is for an Afghan-led, Afghan-owned peace process. We welcome Pakistan’s involvement and support for this process, but that’s ultimately what’s going to, we believe, end this ongoing conflict in Afghanistan,” Toner said.
PTI
