US condemns terrorist attack on Peshawar Agricultural Training Institute

WASHINGTON: The United States has strongly condemned a terrorist attack on the  hostel of Peshawar Agriculture Training Institute that left nine people dead and 37 injured. 

In a statement, the US State Department said, “We offer our deepest condolences to the families of the victims, and wish a speedy recovery to those injured in the attack. We stand with the people and Government of Pakistan, and we will continue to work with our partners in Pakistan and across the region to combat the threat of terrorism.”

A day earlier, four ‘burqa-clad’ terrorists stormed the hostel of Peshawar Agricultural Training Institute, killing at least nine persons including a student, however all of the attackers were killed by security forces in an hour-long operation.

The attackers were wearing a full-face burqa (veil) and came in a rickshaw, said IG Khyber Pakhtonkhwa Salahuddin Mehsud while speaking to ARY News.

According to military’s public affairs wing, ISPR, all the four attackers have been killed in the security forces operation. The clearance operation was launched afterwards. Two soldiers also sustained injuries who were moved to Combined Military Hospital for treatment.

A spokesman for the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan, Muhammad Khurasani, claimed responsibility for the attack in a telephone call to foreign wire service AFP.

“Our mujahids have attacked the building, God willing our fighters will fight till the last drop of blood,” he said.