Karachi carnage: India stands firmly with Pakistan, says Modi

Indian prime minister says attack was deeply saddening [and] utterly condemnable

As statements poured in from all quarters to condemn the Karachi attack that left 43 people belonging to the Ismaili community dead, India assured Pakistan that “we stand firmly with the people of Pakistan in this hour of grief”.

Through his official Twitter account, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi said the attack was “deeply saddening [and] utterly condemnable”.

Twenty-seven men and 16 women were killed in the attack.

The members of the Ismaili community were on their way to work when the bus carrying them was stopped.

“Three men boarded the bus, and two of them opened fire after the third accomplice told them to kill everyone,” said one of the injured women.

A police officer, who was later suspended, said the perpetrators had shot every victim at point-blank range.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 14^th, 2015.