ISLAMABAD: The Foreign Office (FO) on Thursday condemned the deadly Jan 7 shooting at a French satirical paper Charlie Hebdo that left 12 people dead, said a report published on Radio Pakistan.
More on this: 12 dead in shooting at Paris offices of satirical magazine
Earlier on Tuesday, hooded gunmen had stormed the offices of Charlie Hepdo, killing at least 12 people, including two police officers in the worst militant attack on French soil in recent decades.
Charlie Hebdo (Charlie Weekly) is well known for courting controversy with satirical attacks on political and religious leaders.
In a statement issued today, FO spokesperson Tasneem Aslam said that Pakistan deplores all forms of terrorism and extends condolences to the government of France and its citizens for the loss of life.
Aslam said that Pakistan's stance over blasphemous cartoons is very clear. While strongly condemning the attack, she added that Pakistan in the past had moved a resolution in the United Nations and the world needs to get out of Islamophobia.
Aslam further said, "we are confident that the international community will persist in standing firm against terrorism and that the culprits behind terrorist activities will be brought to justice."
India should investigate Working Boundary firing: Aslam
The FO spokesperson also mentioned the firing at the Indo-Pak working boundary and said that India should launch an investigation into the conflict, instead of denying it.
Indian Border Security Forces (BSF) personnel resorted to unprovoked firing and shelling along the Working Boundary in Sialkot's Zafarwal and Shakargarh sectors earlier this week, killing four Pakistani civilians, the Inter Services Public Relations (ISPR) had said in a statement.
More on this: Four Pakistani civilians killed in firing along India border
Both sides continued to trade allegations, with the Indians blaming Pakistani forces of violating a ceasefire agreement.
Kerry's visit confirmed: Aslam
The FO spokesperson also mentioned that the dates of US secretary of State John Kerry's visit to Pakistan have been finalised. She added that Pakistan's issues will be discussed with him during strategic talks.
Know more: Kerry’s visit date not announced by US
The US State Department on Tuesday announced Kerry’s visit to South Asia next week, but did not reveal his schedule for Pakistan due to security reasons.
The country is embroiled in a bloody war with terrorists, which has already killed tens of thousands of people, including soldiers. US officials fear that publicly announcing the schedule could increase security risks for the visiting dignitaries.
Also read: Kerry’s visit
Since hitting a low in 2011 following Abbottabad, Salala and Raymond Davis, America and Pakistan now seem headed towards a more stable relationship.
A cooperative relationship between the two is in their mutual benefit, given Pakistan’s strategic location on the meeting place of South Asia, Southwest Asia and the Gulf — a region in which America has vital economic and geopolitical interests. Washington, thus, can ill-afford to lose Pakistan.
