NEW DELHI: The Lok Sabha on Wednesday observed a brief silence in memory of 141 Pakistanis, including at least 132 children, killed by terrorists at a Peshawar school and passed a resolution condemning the “despicable and cowardly” terrorist attack.

In the resolution proposed by Speaker Sumitra Mahajan during the Zero Hour, the members extended heartfelt condolences to the bereaved families and shared sympathies with the government and people of Pakistan.

“The House having taken note of the inhuman killings of about 141 persons including 132 innocent children, who had yet to see light of their lives, by the terrorists in a school in Peshawar, Pakistan on December 16, expresses its shock, sense of deep outrage, profound sorrow and condemns this despicable, senseless, horrendous and cowardly terrorist attack and extends its heartfelt condolences to and sympathises with the parliament, government, the people of Pakistan, the bereaved families and the injured.

“The House resolves that all terrorist attacks against innocent people, especially vulnerable children, should not be tolerated and calls upon all the nations and each and every one with all the energies at their command to fight against all acts of terrorism, in all its forms and manifestations,” said the resolution passed unanimously.

Soon afterwards, Minister for External Affairs Sushma Swaraj, in a separate statement on the Sydney and Peshawar attacks, said they were a “clarion call” for all those who believed in humanity to join hands to decisively and comprehensively defeat terrorism.

“On our part, India stands ready to play our role in this global endeavour,” she said. Ms Swaraj recalled that Prime Minister Narendra Modi had reached out both to his Australian counterpart, Tony Abbott, and Pakistan premier Nawaz Sharif, after the Sydney and Peshawar attacks respectively.

“Prime Minister... spoke to Australian prime minister... yesterday and thanked him for his leadership that led to the resolution of the crisis and the release of the hostages... he also conveyed deepest condolences to the families of the two innocent persons who lost their lives in the (Sydney) hostage crisis,” she said.

She added that Mr Modi, in a late night gesture, informed Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif that he “shared the heart-rending pain and sorrow of the bereaved families and the people of Pakistan and stood with them in solidarity”.

Terming the Sydney and Peshawar attacks as manifestations of the darkening shadow of terrorism, Ms Swaraj said it was the government’s resolve to fight all forces of terror so that “we can live and prosper in a peaceful and harmonious society”.

—By arrangement with the Times of India

Published in Dawn, December 18th, 2014