Shock and anger in Pakistan, Muslim world over KSA attacks

Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, Chief of the Army Staff (COAS) General Raheel Sharif and the world religious and political leaders have condemned the craven attacks that jolted the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia on Monday.

A suicide bombing outside Prophet’s Mosque (PBUH) in Madina killed four Saudi security forces yesterday. Similar attacks near a Shiite mosque and a US Consulate in two other Saudi cities of Qatif and Jeddah raised fears of a coordinated assault aimed at destabilising the kingdom.

“The attacks are not acceptable. Our prayers and wishes are with the families of those killed in the spineless attacks,” said Premier Nawaz Sharif.

COAS General Raheel Sharif spoken to Saudi Defence Minister Prince Muhammad Bin Salman on the phone and expressed his anguish over the incidents.

“We stand shoulder to shoulder with our Saudi brothers in fighting the menace of terrorism,” said COAS in an Inter Services Public Relations (ISPR) press release.

The Muslim world, including Egypt, United Arab Emirates (UAE), Iran and others have also condemned the attacks in a strongly worded of the statement of protest.

“There are no more red lines left for terrorists to cross. Sunnis, Shiites will both remain victims unless we stand united as one,” Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif said on Twitter.

The sprawling mosque where the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) is buried is visited by millions of Muslims from around the world each year during pilgrimages to Makkah.

Saudi Arabia has been a target of Islamic State (IS) attacks that have killed dozens of people. In June, the Interior Ministry reported 26 terror attacks in the last two years.

The possibility of latest coordinated attacks across varying cities in Saudi Arabia on the same day underscores the threat the kingdom faces from extremists who view the Saudi monarchy as heretics and enemies of Islam. Saudi Arabia is part of the US-led coalition fighting the Islamic State group in Iraq and Syria.