FM Bilawal offers condolences to Turkish FM over Istanbul blast

Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari expressed his condolences to the Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu on Tuesday after a bomb attack in Istanbul, according to a press release from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

In a telephonic conversation, Bilawal strongly condemned the "heinous attack" and reiterated Pakistan’s firm support to Turkey in its fight against the "scourge of terrorism," reported the press release.

He also appreciated the efforts made by the Turkish authorities which resulted in the "immediate arrest" of the perpetrators behind the terrorist attack.

FM Bilawal said that "the brave nation of Turkey, with its resolute will and characteristic grit, will thwart all nefarious attempts to undermine its peace and stability".

During the call, he also thanked Turkey for providing "excellent medical support" to a Pakistani injured in the blast, wishing a speedy recovery to all those undergoing treatment.

Read Turkiye to pursue targets in Syria after Istanbul blast: official

The blast

At least six people were killed and 81 injured in an explosion on a busy pedestrian street in the Beyoglu district of Istanbul on Sunday.

The police have detained 50 people as part of the investigation into the blast, Justice Minister Bekir Bozdag was quoted as saying by state-owned Anadolu Agency on Tuesday.

The Turkish government has blamed the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) and Syrian Kurdish (YPG), a wing of the PKK, militants for the attack.

The suspected bomber, a Syrian woman named Ahlam Albashir, was detained early on Monday at a house raid in Istanbul.

Istanbul police teams identified the female suspect based on her physical appearance, determined via images caught on security cameras near the site of the explosion.