Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina vehemently condemned the attack by the Taliban on a school in the north-western Pakistani city of Peshawar yesterday.
“People across the world are stunned and shocked by the barbaric and heinous massacre,” the premier said, urging the people of South Asia to work together to fight communal forces and international terrorism, BSS reported.
Former prime minister and BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia also condemned the killing of 132 students and nine staff in the attack on the military-run school.
“I do not have words to express the condemnation of the attack that killed [the] students,” she said.
Pakistani Nobel Peace Prize Winner Malala Yousafzai, herself a victim of a Taliban assassination attempt, said: “I am heartbroken by this senseless and cold blooded act of terror in Peshawar that is unfolding before us. Innocent children in their school have no place in horror such as this.”
The education activist said: “I condemn these atrocious and cowardly acts and stand united with the government and armed forces of Pakistan whose efforts so far to address this horrific event are commendable. I, along with millions of others around the world, mourn these children, my brothers and sisters - but we will never be defeated.”
“Schools must be safe and secure learning spaces, and getting an education is an act of bravery. Going to school should not have to be an act of bravery,” UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon said.
Afghanistan’s President Ashraf Ghani said: “The killing of innocent children is contrary to Islam.”
US President Barack Obama condemned that attacks saying: “By targeting students and teachers in this heinous attack, terrorists have once again shown their depravity.”
British Prime Minister Davis Cameron said: “The news from Pakistan is deeply shocking. It is horrifying that children are killed simply for going to school.”
Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif sounded a defiant note as outrage swept across his country saying: “The government together with the army has started [anti-militant offensive] Zarb-e-Azb and it will continue until terrorism is rooted out from our land. We also have had discussions with Afghanistan that we together fight this terrorism, and this fight will continue. No one should have any doubt about it.”
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi tweeted a series of statements, describing the attacks as: “...a senseless act of unspeakable brutality that has claimed lives of the most innocent of human beings - young children in their school.”