The President of Tajikistan, Emomali Rahmon, on November 24 sent a telegram of condolences to the President and Prime Minister of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, Asif Ali Zardari and Shehbaz Sharif, in connection with the death and injury of a large number of citizens of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan as a result of a brutal terrorist attack on a convoy of vehicles in the northwestern region of this country, according to the Tajik president’s official website.
It, in particulr, reads:
“We strongly condemn this barbaric act of criminal forces and express our sincere condolences to you, the relatives and friends of the victims of this terrorist act, and all the friendly people of Pakistan. We wish a full recovery to all those injured.”
Media reports say the death toll from the November 21 attack on passenger coaches in Pakistan's northwest Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province has risen to 42.
The province's Minister for Law and Parliamentary Affairs, Mr. Aftab Alam Afridi, reportedly noted on November 22 that unidentified gunmen sprayed bullets at the coaches from the mountains in the Kurram tribal district of the province before fleeing the scene.
While initial reports suggest the attack might be linked to ongoing sectarian tensions between Shiite and Sunni Muslims in the area, the minister revealed that evidence also points toward a possible terrorist attack.
"All local sectarian groups have distanced themselves from the incident, prompting a broader investigation," Alam added.
According to some sources, the convoy, carrying Shiite Muslim passengers, was en route to Parachinar when it was ambushed. The deceased have been moved to Shiite worship places and handed over to families for burial.
Twenty people reportedly also got injured in the attack and have been shifted to hospital for treatment, the sources added.
The country's Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif condemned the attack and expressed deep sorrow over the loss of precious lives and extended sympathies to the bereaved families.
