WASHINGTON/NEW YORK: The killing of at least 130 schoolchildren by Taliban in Peshawar on Tuesday drew swift and strong reactions from world leaders and chief of the United Nations.

“We stand with the people of Pakistan,” said US President Barack Obama while condemning the horrendous attack.

“By targeting students and teachers in this heinous attack, terrorists have once again shown their depravity,” he said in a statement issued by his office.

“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,” President Obama said.

In a statement, US Secretary of State John Kerry said the news of the attack was devastating.

He said that “parents send their kids to school to learn and to be safe and to dream and to find opportunity”. The Taliban’s vision of the world, he added, was the opposite of everything that those mothers and fathers wanted for their children.

“This morning, wherever you live, wherever you are, those are our children, and this is the world’s loss,” Mr Kerry said.

On his part, US Defence Secretary Chuck Hagel said his government remained committed to supporting Pakistan in its efforts to combat extremism. “As we stand firm with the Pakistani people and military in their fight against terrorists, we also honour their sacrifices and join the victims’ families and loved ones in their mourning,” Mr Hagel said.

In New York, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon assailed what he termed a “blood-curdling attack” on the school in Peshawar. “It is an act of horror and rank cowardice to attack defenceless children while they learn,” Mr Ban said during an address to the Security Council on Tuesday.

“The hearts of the world go out to the parents and families who lost loved ones in the horrific attack.” Senior officials of the organisation echoed the secretary-general’s comments, with UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Zeid Ra’ad Al Hussein, condemning “an utterly despicable and incomprehensibly vicious attack on defenceless children”.

“The Taliban have sunk to an all-time depth with this attack,” Mr Hussein said. “Everyone must now unite to combat this type of savage extremism. No government or intelligence agencies, no religious figures, no wealthy sponsors, no members of the general public can possibly justify continuing support for the Taliban, ISIS, Boko Haram, Al Qaeda or any of these takfiri groups which appear to be competing to attain the highest level of human barbarity.”

Afghan President Ashraf Ghani said the attack was “insane and cowardly”.

Afghan National Security Adviser Hanif Atmar, meanwhile, called Adviser to the Prime Minister on National Security and Foreign Affairs Sartaj Aziz to convey condolences over the tragic incident.

He called for “common endeavours” for ridding the region of terrorism.

Agencies add: British Prime Minister David Cameron said he was “deeply shocked” at the tragic news. “It’s horrifying that children are being killed simply for going to school,” he added.

British Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond in a statement said: “Nothing can justify such a horrific attack on children going to school. The UK continues to stand shoulder to shoulder with the government and people of Pakistan in the fight against terrorism and extremism.”

French President François Hollande condemned the “despicable attack”, noting that there was “no word to qualify the infamy of such an attack against children in their school”.

“The government of Pakistan is assured of France’s support in the fight against terrorism,” he added.

In a statement, German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier said: “The hostage-taking and murder of children exceeds in its cruel cowardice all that Pakistan, stricken by years of terror and violence, has known before.”

European Union High Representative Federica Mogherini said: “What happened today reminds all of us how strong the threat posed by the Taliban still is and how fragile and dangerous the situation in the region remains.

“The European Union stands fully committed to tackle the threat posed by terrorism and ready to further assist the Pakistani government.”

In a statement, Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson said China would “continue to render firm support to the government and people of Pakistan in the fight against terrorism and unremitting efforts in maintaining national stability and people’s safety”.

A statement from the Japanese Foreign Ministry said Japan was “deeply shocked and saddened” by the terrorist attack and would support Pakistan government’s efforts to fight terrorism.

Published in Dawn, December 17th, 2014