World rallies behind Pakistan in anti-terror fight

US, EU and the UN condemn hospital bombing

The international community rallied behind Pakistan in the wake of the Quetta suicide bombing, which left more than 70 people dead and over 100 others injured on Monday.

Condemnations and messages of support started pouring in after the massacre at the government hospital where some 200 people had gathered after the fatal shooting of a senior lawyer earlier in the day.



United States Ambassador to Pakistan David Hale strongly condemned the attack in Quetta on behalf of the American mission to Pakistan and extended his deepest condolences to the victims and their families during the time of grief.

“This brutal and senseless attack on civilians, so many of them lawyers working to bring justice to their country, will not undermine one of the most important pillars of Pakistan’s democracy and civil society,” Hale said in a statement issued by the US Embassy.

“The US stands with the government and people of Pakistan, and is committed to supporting them in the fight against terrorism,” he added.



The State Department also condemned the Quetta bombing. “We offer our assistance to Prime Minister [Nawaz] Sharif as his government investigates and works to bring the murderers to justice,” said US State Department Press Office Director Elizabeth Trudeau.



She added that brutal and senseless attacks “only deepen our shared resolve to defeat terrorism around the world, and we will continue to work with our partners in Pakistan and across the region to combat the threat of terrorism”.

The United Nations chief also joined in condemning the brutal attack, terming it ‘particularly appalling’ for targeting mourners at a hospital.

“The targeting of mourners at a civilian hospital makes the attack particularly appalling,” said UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon while expressing solidarity with the people and the Pakistani government. He also urged the government to do its utmost to bring those behind the attack to justice.



Meanwhile, the European Union also extended its sincere condolences to the families and friends of the victims of the Quetta bombing.

“There is no justification for such acts of terrorism,” the EU spokesperson said, vowing to continue to stand by Pakistan.

“The EU continues to stand by Pakistan in its fight against terrorism and violent extremism and to support the Pakistani authorities in their efforts to maintain the rule of law,” the EU statement read.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 9^th, 2016.