WASHINGTON: US State Department spokesman Matthew Miller today strongly condemned Sunday’s massive suicide bombing that targeted an election rally in northwestern Pakistan. 54 people were killed in the attack and nearly 200 injured, including many with life-threatening injuries.
In Washington, Miller expressed the heartfelt condolences of the American people. “We are deeply saddened by the loss of life and injuries sustained from the explosion and share our heartfelt condolences with those affected by the attack.” He added, “We believe in the resilience of Pakistan’s people and their capacity to recover from this devastating attack.”
Concerning the security situation in the region, ARY’s Jahanzaib Ali asked Miller about assurances the United States received from the Taliban at a recent high-level meeting in Doha, Qatar.
Miller responded that the US reiterated its position that it is crucial for the Taliban to “not allow Afghanistan to be used as a base for terrorist attacks in the region or anywhere else.”
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Ali also questioned Pakistan’s
ability to tackle militancy without American military support. Miller refrained from disclosing specific conversations between the two countries, but stated that the US continues to fund counterterrorism capacity-building programs in Pakistan focused on law enforcement and the justice sector.Miller underscored the US remains “committed to working with Pakistan to address the shared threat posed by terrorist groups throughout the region and support the Pakistani government’s efforts to combat terrorism in a manner that promotes the
rule of law and the protection of human rights.”
Shifting focus to the 10-year mark of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) project, Miller reiterated the United States’ unwavering support for Pakistan’s economic success and emphasized the importance of transparent, sustainable, and mutually beneficial trade and investment ties.
He welcomed trade and investment that promotes development and growth
while highlighting the need for responsible debt management and data security.
It is pertinent to mention here that at least 40 persons were killed and 200 sustained injuries in the powerful bomb blast that targeted Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam Fazl (JUI-F) workers’ convention.
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