Pakistan condemns terrorist attack killing 30 in Turkey

Pakistan has strongly condemned bombing in Istanbul that claimed nearly 30 lives and expressed complete solidarity with Turkey in its fight against terrorism.

“It is with deep sorrow and grief that we have learnt about the terrorist explosions in the Besiktas district of Istanbul,” the Foreign Office said.

“Pakistan condemns this heinous act of terrorism in the strongest possible terms. Our thoughts and prayers are with all those who have lost their loved ones. We extend our profound sympathies and condolences to the brotherly people and Government of Turkey. We also pray for the speedy recovery of those injured,” the FO said in a statement.

“The government and people of Pakistan express complete solidarity with Turkey in its fight against terrorism and reaffirm the belief that those seeking to disturb Turkey’s peace, stability and internal harmony would never succeed. We have no doubt that the brotherly people of Turkey would decisively defeat the scourge of terrorism with their unshakable resolve and continue on the path of peace, security and prosperity,” the statement said.

Pakistan also reiterates its condemnation of terrorism in all its forms and manifestations.

READ MORE: Twin bombing outside Istanbul soccer stadium kills 29, wounds 166

Two bombs exploded less than a minute apart, killing 30 people and wounding 166 outside a soccer stadium in Istanbul on Saturday night, in a co-ordinated attack on police shortly after a match between two of Turkey’s top teams.

First, a car bomb exploded outside the Vodafone Arena, home to Istanbul’s Besiktas soccer team, leaving flaming wreckage on the street. Forty-five seconds later, a suspect wearing explosives detonated them while surrounded by police in an adjacent park, Deputy Prime Minister Numan Kurtulmus told a news conference.

President Tayyip Erdogan described the blasts as a terrorist attack on police and civilians. He said the aim of the bombings, two hours after the end of a match attended by thousands of people, had been to cause the maximum number of casualties.