Japan strongly condemns bomb attacks in Pakistan

ISLAMABAD: Japan has expressed solidarity with the government and people of the Pakistan in the wake of terrorist attacks and reiterated its support for the efforts by the government to combat terrorism.

“Japan is shocked and saddened by the terrorist attacks which caused numerous deaths and injuries on July 13, on political gathering in Mastung, Balochistan and Bannu, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Japan expresses its condolences to the victims and the bereaved families.

Japan also prays those injured for their earliest recovery,” the Embassy of Japan in Pakistan in a statement on Saturday quoted Japanese Foreign Minister Taro Kono as saying.

It said Japan strongly condemned terrorism in all its forms and manifestations.

Japan also strongly hoped that the general election would be held this month freely, fairly and peacefully without giving in to such heinous attacks, it added.

In a deadliest attack on election campaigning, a suicide bomber killed more than 128 people at an election rally in Balochistan’s Mastung on Friday (July 14), in the second election-related attack on the same day.

Balochistan government in an earlier statement, also announced two-day mourning across the province over the suicide bombing in Mastung that also killed Balochistan Awami Party (BAP) leader and an election candidate Siraj Raisani.

The bombing was the most deadly attack in Pakistan in over three years and is the third incident of election-related violence this week.