WASHINGTON: The United States on Wednesday offered to work with the government and people of Pakistan in their struggle to defeat terrorists who attack educational institutions and kill children.

Strongly condemning Wednesday’s terrorist attack on the Bacha Khan University in Charsadda, a US State Department spokesman also backed the efforts to build a stable and prosperous Pakistan.

“It is particularly appalling that these terrorists continue to attack educational institutions, targeting Pakistan’s future generations,” said Mark Toner, the department’s deputy spokesman.

“The United States stands with the government and people of Pakistan and their efforts to create a secure, stable, and prosperous country, and we will stand side-by-side with Pakistan in its fight against terrorism,” he added. “We offer our deepest condolences to the victims and their families during this time of grief.”

At a separate briefing, US State Department’s spokesman John Kirby reiterated Washington’s support to the Afghan peace, although he acknowledged that it would be a long and difficult journey.

“We’ve been very pragmatic, and … clear-eyed about the challenges which still remain in trying to get at an Afghan-led reconciliation process,” he said.

“Nobody’s more mindful of the challenges with respect to that than we are.”

Mr Kirby noted that President Ashraf Ghani and Chief Executive Abdullah Abdullah were also aware of those challenges but were still backing this initiative for peace.

Published in Dawn, January 21st, 2016