ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has condemned in the strongest terms the ‘heinous’ terrorist attack at a mosque in Kandahar on Friday, resulting in the loss of many precious lives and injuries to others.
In a statement, Ministry of Foreign Affairs Spokesperson said the government and people of Pakistan convey their support, and heartfelt condolences, to the people of Afghanistan and stand in solidarity with them in this hour of grief.
“Pakistan condemns terrorism in all its forms and manifestations, including despicable attacks on places of worship,” the spokesperson said.
At least 32 people were killed and 53 wounded when explosions hit a Shia mosque in the Afghan city of Kandahar on Friday. The explosion on Friday afternoon took place in the Bibi Fatima mosque, the largest mosque for Shia worshippers in the city.
The cause of the blasts was not immediately identified, but it came exactly a week after a suicide bomb attack on Shia worshippers in the northern city of Kunduz, that was claimed by the Islamic State group.
READ MORE: At least 32 dead, several injured in Kandahar mosque blast
Afghan Interior ministry spokesman Qari Sayed Khosti said on Twitter: “We are saddened to learn that an explosion took place in a mosque of the Shia brotherhood in the first district of Kandahar city in which a number of our compatriots were martyred and wounded.”
Taliban special forces arrived in the area “to determine the nature of the incident and bring the perpetrators to justice”, he added. The images on social media showed many people apparently dead or seriously wounded on the floor of the mosque.
The incident took place a week after dozens of people were killed and more than 100 others were wounded when a mosque in the northern province of Kunduz was targeted in an ISIL-K claimed bombing. The Taliban-led government promised a quick response and to hold the perpetrators of the Kunduz attack responsible.
