We stand with people of Pakistan, says Obama

Published December 16, 2014
Condemning Peshawar massacre, the US president vows that America would stand by Pakistan in its struggle against extremism. – Agencies/File
Condemning Peshawar massacre, the US president vows that America would stand by Pakistan in its struggle against extremism. – Agencies/File

WASHINGTON: US President Barack Obama condemned the deadly Taliban raid on a Pakistani school Tuesday and promised that America would stand by the country in its struggle against violent extremism.

Follow live updates of the incident here: TTP militants storm Peshawar school, 131 killed

“By targeting students and teachers in this heinous attack, terrorists have once again shown their depravity,” he said, after the attack on the army-run facility in Peshawar left at 130 people dead.

“We stand with the people of Pakistan, and reiterate the commitment of the United States to support the government of Pakistan in its efforts to combat terrorism and extremism and to promote peace and stability in the region.”

Kerry devastated at ‘gut-wrenching’ images of attack

US Secretary of State John Kerry, in London to speak about a Palestinian bid at the United Nations to force Israel to withdraw from Palestinian land, said images of the attack were “gut-wrenching”.

“Mothers and fathers send their kids to school to learn and to be safe and to dream and find opportunity,” Kerry told reporters.

“Instead today they are gone, wiped away by Taliban assassins who serve a dark and almost medieval vision, the opposite of everything that those mothers and fathers wanted for their children.”

Opinion

Editorial

Impending slaughter
Updated 07 May, 2024

Impending slaughter

Seven months into the slaughter, there are no signs of hope.
Wheat investigation
07 May, 2024

Wheat investigation

THE Shehbaz Sharif government is in a sort of Catch-22 situation regarding the alleged wheat import scandal. It is...
Naila’s feat
07 May, 2024

Naila’s feat

IN an inspirational message from the base camp of Nepal’s Mount Makalu, Pakistani mountaineer Naila Kiani stressed...
Plugging the gap
06 May, 2024

Plugging the gap

IN Pakistan, bias begins at birth for the girl child as discriminatory norms, orthodox attitudes and poverty impede...
Terrains of dread
Updated 06 May, 2024

Terrains of dread

Restored faith in the police is unachievable without political commitment and interprovincial support.
Appointment rules
Updated 06 May, 2024

Appointment rules

If the judiciary had the power to self-regulate, it ought to have exercised it instead of involving the legislature.