NEW YORK: UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres strongly condemned the suicide bombing in Bajaur in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, and called on the authorities to hold accountable those responsible for the violence.
At least 54 people were killed and approximately 83 more wounded in the deadly attack at a political gathering of the Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F).
“The Secretary-General extends his heartfelt condolences to the families of the victims and wishes a prompt recovery to those injured,” UN Deputy Spokesperson Farhan Haq said in a statement read out at the regular noon briefing at UN Headquarters in New York.
The UN chief called on the Pakistani authorities to bring those responsible to justice.
“The Secretary-General denounces all instances of terrorism and deliberate targeted attacks against civilians and stands in solidarity with the government and the people of Pakistan in combating this scourge.”
The United States of America, Saudi Arabia and Iran have strongly condemned the suicide bombing in the Bajaur district of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
In a condolence statement issued by the US embassy, a US spokesman extended condolences to the families of the victims of the Bajaur blast.
“The lives of innocent people were lost in the blast, there is no place for such terrorism in a peaceful and democratic society,” the statement said.
“We strongly condemn this heinous act of violence, which has resulted in the loss of innocent lives and harm to many. Such terrorism has no place in a peaceful and democratic society.”
“We stand in solidarity with the people of Pakistan in this difficult time,” it added said, adding that We reiterate our commitment to support Pakistan’s efforts in combating terrorism and ensuring the safety of its citizens.
The statement further said that the US stands with the people of Pakistan in these testing times against will continue supporting Islamabad in its efforts to combat terrorism.
Saudi Arabia’s Foreign Ministry has also denounced the suicide attack and offered its condolences to the Pakistani government and the families of the victims while wishing those injured a speedy recovery.
“The ministry reiterates the Kingdom’s constant position and that calls for rejecting violence and terrorism anywhere in the world, expressing the Kingdom’s full solidarity with Pakistan and its brotherly people,” the ministry said in a statement.
Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi has condemned the deadly terrorist attack in the Pakistani city of Bajaur which claimed at least 40 lives.
