ISLAMABAD, Oct 24: Pakistan government said on Thursday that it was greatly concerned over the fate of hundreds of people held by Chechen rebels in a Moscow theatre, and condemned the mass hostage-taking as an “act of terrorism”.

“Pakistan has learnt with great concern that 20 gunmen declaring themselves as Chechens have taken some 700 people hostage in Moscow and are threatening to blow up the building,” the ministry of foreign affairs said in a statement.

“The Government of Pakistan, in keeping with its well known policy, strongly condemns this act of terrorism.”

The statement added that Pakistan hoped the crisis could be resolved peacefully and that the hostages would be released unharmed. Pakistan reiterated it considered the problem of Chechnya an internal Russian matter. —AFP