Over 100, including 84 children, were killed when terrorists took hundreds of students and teachers hostage on Tuesday in the Army Public School in the city of Peshawar. The attack was claimed by the Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP).

This deadly and tragic incident has once again raised questions on the state of security and maintenance of law and order in the country.

Attacking Army Public School is believed to be a reaction to the army's ongoing Operation Zarb-i-Azb in the country's tribal areas which is aimed at wiping out terrorists and their sanctuaries.

Here's how politicians and journalists reacted to the attack:

Questions over security and state of law enforcement

Although Operation Zarb-i-Azb is under way to rid the country of terrorists, the latest attack raises questions on the state of preparedness of law enforcement agencies to deal with what is being regarded as a blowback from the ongoing offensive in North Waziristan.

Senior journalist Talat Hussain lamented the security situation, saying terrorists appear to have no difficulties in attacking anyone, anywhere.

Appeals for unity

Calls are being made not to use the tragedy for politicking and that it was time for everyone to stand together and put aside differences.

Author Bina Shah has implored political stakeholders to keep score-settling at a distance.

Calls for continuing Zarb-i-Azb

With the latest attack, there are calls for continuing with Zarb-i-Azb. Pakistan Awami Tehreek chief Dr Tahirul Qadri and Muttahida Qaumi Movement leader Sumeta Syed have in their reactions to the attack in Peshawar said that the operation should not be stopped until its aims are accomplished.

Terrorism in the name of religion condemnable

More condemnations of the attack have come from politicians saying using religion for attacking defenceless children was condemnable and a brutal and inhumane thing to do.

Jamaat-i-Islami's Karachi Emir Naeemur Rehman condemned the attack on behalf of his party.

International condemnation

British Prime Minister David Cameron has condemned the attack and expressed deep shock at the tragedy.

Indian premier Narendra Modi calls the attack on Army Public School, senseless, unspeakable brutality.

Indian Home Minister Rajnath Singh says the attack, one of the bloodiest in Pakistan in recent years, exposes the “real face of terrorism”.

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