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'Heinous crime against humanity': Condemnations pour in after suicide bombing in Quetta
Condemnations poured in on Sunday after suicide attack in Quetta claimed more than 10 lives and left several others injured, with global actors expressing solidarity with Pakistan. The attack targeted a shuttle train, with images following the blast showing a mangled train carriage on its side as people clambered over the wreckage to find survivors. People could be seen carrying blood-soaked victims on stretchers away from a derailed car, while security personnel stood guard. Images from the scene also showed burnt-out vehicles, damaged residential buildings and twisted metal and debris scattered near the railway track, with smoke rising from the wreckage. President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif condemned the attack in separate statements, expressing the resolve to continue the fight against terrorism. Condemnations poured in from others as well, with the Chinese embassy in Pakistan extending โdeep condolences to the deceased victims and sincere sympathies to the bereaved familiesโ. โWe firmly oppose any form of terrorism and will, as always, firmly support Pakistan in combating terrorism and protecting the safety of the people. We stand firmly with our Pakistani brothers and sisters at this moment,โ the embassyโs statement on X said. UK High Commissioner Jane Mariott said she was โabsolutely appalledโ by the attack. โOur thoughts and prayers are with the martyrs and their families,โ Mariott wrote in a post on X. Meanwhile, the Russian embassy in Pakistan condemned the attack, expressing hope that the perpetrators would be โidentified and brought to justiceโ. โWe extend our deepest condolences to the families and friends of the victims and wish all those injured a speedy recovery,โ the embassy further said in a post on X. The Turkish foreign ministry, condemning the attack, said: โWe are deeply saddened by the loss of lives caused by the terrorist attack targeting a passenger train today (May 24) in Balochistan. โWe strongly condemn this heinous attack, wish Godโs mercy upon those who lost their lives, and extend our condolences to their families and to the people of Pakistan.โ It emphasised that such attacks targeting the peace and stability of the region were โutterly unacceptableโ and reiterated Turkiyeโs โsolidarity with Pakistan in the fight against terrorismโ. Australian High Commissioner Timothy Kane also expressed solidarity with Pakistan. โDeeply saddened by the tragic terrorist attack in Quetta,โ Kane wrote on X, saying that Australia stood with Pakistan โat this difficult timeโ. โWe extend heartfelt condolences to those who lost loved ones and wish a full and swift recovery to those who were injured,โ he said. Iranโs envoy to Pakistan, Reza Amiri Moghadam, condemned the attack on behalf of the Iranian government, offering condolences to the government and people of Pakistan, โespecially to the bereaved familiesโ. In a post on X, Moghadam further stated, โThe malicious and mischievous acts against the civil transportation infrastructure that serve for the human development and the smooth movements of the passengers and consignments needed for the development of trade, are examples of crimes against humanity and reflect the malicious, infirm and inhumane minds of the perpetrators, founders and supporters of this heinous phenomenonโ. โMy sincere [prayers] for the safe and speedy recovery of the injured,โ he added. The Afghan foreign ministry also issued a condemnatory statement, saying โthe killing and wounding of civilians, whether by anyone and in any form, is condemnableโ. In his condemnation, KP Chief Minister Sohail Afridi expressed โheartfelt sympathyโ and extended condolences to the bereaved families. โThis cowardly incident of terrorism is a heinous crime against humanity,โ he said. PPP Senator Sherry Rehman also condemned the attack, terming it an act of โgrisly brutalityโ. โInnocent citizens, so far mostly women and children, have lost their lives in this act of grisly brutality. They were travelling for Eid,โ the PPP leader said in a post on X. She continued: โPakistan has borne many such tragedies with courage and resolve to fight back. But who are the perpetrators of such shameful crimes that target innocent citizens?โ She warned that as more details surface, โall the sponsors of such terrorism will be exposed,โ however, she warned that perpetrators should know that Pakistani citizens had โspines of steelโ. โWe are probably the most resilient people on this earth. We have won many counter-terrorism battles before; we will win this war, too. Again and again,โ Rehman said.