Pakistan vows to support victims of terrorism

ISLAMABAD: On International Day of Remembrance and Tribute to the Victims of Terrorism being observed on Friday, Pakistan has reiterated its firm resolve to take joint actions supporting victims of terrorism.

In his message in connection with the Day, Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi said people of Pakistan have suffered the most from terrorism losing more than 70,000 lives and suffering economic loss of over $120 billion.

He said despite these losses, our resolve to fight terrorism remains unwavering as the resilient Pakistani nation has shown that values of enlightenment, compassion and empathy are much stronger than the forces of intolerance, hatred and violence.

He paid tribute to Pakistani citizens, armed forces and law enforcement agencies for rendering immense sacrifices for the freedom, safety and security of the country.

The foreign minister said as we commemorate this day, we must remember and venerate the victims of the worst form of state terrorism by India against innocent people of Indian-occupied Jammu and Kashmir.

He said since 1990, India’s occupation army has martyred over 100,000 Kashmiris, widowed 22,000 women, orphaned 108,000 children and molested more than eleven thousand women.

He further said Indian state terrorism has intensified since the military siege of eight million Kashmiris on 5th August last year with imprisonment of political leaders and brute force against peaceful protesters.

Qureshi said the international community should seek to prosecute the Indian civil and military personnel involved in the state terrorism and serious crimes against humanity.

He said on its part Pakistan is committed to supporting victims of terrorism to show that they are not alone and the international community stands in solidarity with them wherever they are.