PESHAWAR: The terrorists who attacked a school in Peshawar, had ‘no intention’ of taking hostages, rather they wished to kill as many people as possible.

This was said by DG ISPR Asim Bajwa during a media briefing in Peshawar on Tuesday night.

Bajwa described an assault that seemed designed purely to terrorize the children rather than take anyone hostage to further the militant group's aims.

“Their sole purpose, it seems, was to kill those innocent kids. That's what they did,” he said.

He briefed the media with details about the attack carried out by terrorists on a Peshawar school and said that 141 people were killed in the atrocity.

The dead included 132 children and 9 staff members of the school.

The DG ISPR said that 1099 children were registered at the school and that 960 people were rescued from the location.

“They started shooting the moment they entered the school premises,” he said.

“No one could have imagined that terrorists would have targeted innocent children like this,” Bajwa said.

He said that all seven dead terrorists had suicide jackets on them.

“Forget about being Muslims, these terrorists are not even human,” he said.

The DG ISPR said that the operation against the militants would continue and would not stop until every one of them were finished.

Opinion

Editorial

Pressure politics
Updated 28 May, 2026

Pressure politics

The attempt to connect the Iran conflict with the Abraham Accords makes little sense.
Eid’s true spirit
Updated 27 May, 2026

Eid’s true spirit

Pakistan celebrates Eid while grappling with economic strain that continues to weigh heavily on ordinary households.
Cotton crisis
27 May, 2026

Cotton crisis

PAKISTAN’S declining cotton economy is rapidly turning into a case study in policy contradiction. Amid endless...
Balochistan tragedy
Updated 26 May, 2026

Balochistan tragedy

The state keeps reiterating the role of hostile foreign actors in fomenting unrest, yet seems to be short on ideas on how to prevent the ingress of such actors and their ideologies in Baloch society.
Economic engagement
26 May, 2026

Economic engagement

AN array of investment MoUs valued at $7bn signed during Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s China visit signifies...
Flotilla abuse
26 May, 2026

Flotilla abuse

THE testimonies that have emerged from international activists, who were part of a Gaza-bound flotilla, paint a...