In a message on the 11th anniversary of the Army Public School (APS) attack, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Tuesday said the nation stood firm and united in its resolve to eradicate terrorism.

In the deadliest terror attack in the country’s history, at least 144 people ─ mostly schoolchildren ─ were killed when heavily armed militants stormed the army-run public school on Dec 16, 2014. Seven soldiers of the Special Services Group and two officers were among the wounded.

In a message posted on his X account, PM Shehbaz said, “Today, we commemorate the martyrs of the APS Peshawar tragedy — the innocent children, teachers and staff whose sacrifice is forever etched in our national conscience.

“Their sacrifice remains a constant reminder of our collective responsibility to defeat terrorism,” the premier stressed.

“The Pakistani nation will always stand united, firm and unwavering in its resolve to eradicate the scourge of terrorism,” he added, praying for the families of the martyrs.

In his message, President Asif Ali Zardari remembered the sacrifices of the children and the staff, vowing to stand with the families of the martyrs.

“Today, we remember the innocent children and staff of the Army Public School whose lives were taken in the brutal terrorist attack on December 16, 2014,” he said in a message posted by his spokesperson on X.

“Their sacrifice remains a solemn reminder of the heavy price our nation has paid in the fight against terrorism,” the president said.

He vowed to stand with the families “who continue to bear this pain with courage”.

“The nation will always honour the resilience of the APS families who transformed their grief into strength for Pakistan,” he stressed. He reiterated Pakistan’s commitment to eliminating terrorism, stating that the country’s resolve remained “absolute”.

“There can be no soft corner for terrorists or those who support, finance, shelter or justify them,” he said, emphasising that “there can be no negotiations with those who raise arms against the state or target our children”.

“We strongly condemn Indian-sponsored terrorism in Pakistan,” he went on to say.

The evidence of its involvement in efforts to destabilise our country is well documented. Pakistan will continue to expose these hostile activities and will defend its people with full resolve,” he said.

The president warned terrorists’ “apologists, facilitators, and supporters” that the armed forces will not “spare them and will defeat terrorism, no matter what political, ideological or fake religious garb they try to shroud themselves in”.

President Zardari paid tribute to the armed forces, law enforcement agencies, and intelligence services “whose efforts have prevented many such tragedies.”

“We will continue to pursue every terrorist and every facilitator until justice is done,” he added.

“The memory of the APS martyrs strengthens our resolve. Pakistan will never allow the enemies of peace to succeed,” the president concluded.

The Foreign Office (FO) also issued statement, saying: “On the anniversary of the heinous terrorist attack on the Army Public School in Peshawar, Pakistan solemnly remembers the innocent children and teachers who were martyred in an act of sheer inhumanity.

“Their sacrifice stands as an enduring symbol of the nation’s resolve to confront and defeat terrorism in all its forms.”

The statement added that “this tragic anniversary underscores the continuing urgency of eradicating the menace of terrorism”.

It highlighted that Pakistan had been among the hardest-hit countries in this fight, having lost more than 90,000 lives and borne immense economic and social costs.

“These sacrifices remain an enduring reminder of Pakistan’s frontline role and unwavering commitment to counterterrorism.”

The statement further said that Pakistan’s security forces and law enforcement agencies had a role in saving “countless precious lives — not only of Pakistanis, but also of people across the region and beyond”.

The country’s security forces and law enforcement agencies continued to take decisive and effective action against terrorist groups, the statement said, adding that at the same time, “Pakistan faces a persistent threat from terrorist elements operating from across the border, with sustained support from our adversaries”.

“We have consistently drawn attention to this challenge and have taken resolute measures to prevent terrorism from spilling over into our territory.

“In doing so, Pakistan has acted as a bulwark against the spread of terrorism beyond its borders, contributing significantly to the security and stability of the wider region and beyond.

“This unrefuted reality underscores the urgent need for concrete action to dismantle terrorist sanctuaries and to cut off all forms of support to all terrorist groups, including those targeting Pakistan,” the statement said.

It added: “As we honor the martyrs of APS, Pakistan reaffirms its unshakeable resolve to protect its people, defend its sovereignty, and pursue its vision of lasting peace through unity, resilience, and an uncompromising stance against terrorism —irrespective of its origin.”