ABU DHABI / PARIS, Sept 21: The United Arab Emirates on Sunday urged Pakistanis to support their government after an attack on an Islamabad hotel killed at least 50 people. Other countries also condemned the suicide bombing and issued rallying calls for the continued fight against extremism.

The UAE foreign ministry said the country “vehemently condemns this foul crime perpetrated by terrorists” and expressed “solidarity with the Pakistani government in battling such acts of terror”.

It urged the Pakistani people to “stand behind the government in its efforts to combat terrorism and establish stability in the country”.

“China opposes terrorism of any kind,” said foreign minister Yang Jiechi in a message to his Pakistani counterpart Shah Mehmood Qureshi.

“As the friendly neighbour and all-weather friend of Pakistan, China will continue to support the unremitting efforts of Pakistan’s government and people to maintain stability,” said the message, posted on the foreign ministry website.

British Prime Minister Gordon Brown pledged that Britain would do whatever it could to help Pakistan combat terrorism.

Speaking to Sky News television, Brown said that Saturday’s bombing was “completely inexcusable, the violence is completely unacceptable”.

He added: “Terrorism has got to be rooted out and those violent extremists who are trying to destroy life for the purposes of getting propaganda must be told, once and for all, that the whole world is united against what they are doing.”

Afghan President Hamid Karzai called for an “honest struggle” to beat terrorism. “As long as this evil phenomenon is active in the region, terror, horror and explosions will continue,” he said in a statement.

Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu, the secretary-general of the OIC, said the “despicable terrorist actions completely contradict the praiseworthy precepts of Islam”. He called the perpetrators “the enemies of peace whom the international community must fight with all possible means”.

German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier said: “The people behind this horrible act must be found and brought to justice and every form of support for the terrorists must be opposed.” In a letter of condolence to Pakistani foreign minister, he stated: “We cannot say often enough that terror and violence must not be used as a tool in a political conflict.”

“The Islamic Republic of Iran condemns and rejects the actions which led to the killings of innocent people,” foreign ministry spokesman Hassan Ghashghavi said.

“Iran considers the stability, calm and security of Pakistan to be in the interest of the region and has always emphasised this,” he added.—Agencies

Masood Haider adds: A statement issued by UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon described the bombing as a “heinous terrorist attack”. He expressed his “heartfelt condolences to the families of the victims of this appalling attack, as well as to the government and people of Pakistan”.

“No cause can justify the indiscriminate targeting of civilians.”