Pakistani Minister after Mosque Attack: Worshippers Not Killed During Prayers Even In India
Attack on the Peshawar Mosque: Asif stated during a debate in the National Assembly that “worshippers weren’t slain during prayers even in India or Israel but it happened in Pakistan.”
Speaking about the deadly suicide bombing, that took place inside a mosque in Peshawar on Tuesday, Pakistan’s defence minister, Khwaja Asif, reportedly claimed that even in India, people were not killed while attending prayers. One hundred people were killed and dozens more were hurt in the suicide attack.
At the National Assembly, Asif discussed the attack and stated, “Worshippers weren’t killed during prayers even in India or Israel but it happened in Pakistan.”
Around 1 o’clock on Monday, there was an explosion in the mosque’s main hall.
According to Dawn, the minister urged cooperation in the battle against terrorism and said it was time for Pakistan to put its “house in order.”
The minister referred to incidences of terrorism that occurred between 2010 and 2017 and stated, “This conflict began in Swat during the PPP’s tenure and it was resolved under the PML-prior N’s era, and peace was built in the country from Karachi to Swat.”
But, he continued, “if you recall, a year and a half or two years ago, […] we were briefed twice or three times in this same hall, in which it was plainly stated that talks could be conducted against these people and they might be led toward peace.
Asif claimed that although several viewpoints had emerged on the subject, no “conclusive conclusion” had been made.
According to the Dawn story, Asif also claimed that thousands of people were left jobless as a result of the Afghans’ immigration and subsequent settlement in Pakistan. Asif further said that the first indication of this occurred when the Swat residents demonstrated against the relocated people.
He remarked that similar sentiments and protests were also expressed by the Wana people. Because of the catastrophe that happened yesterday, he stated, “I am bringing up these occurrences. The terrorist was standing in the front during Zuhr prayers when he detonated himself.”
Asif claimed that during their visit to Peshawar, the prime minister and the army chief received a briefed on the attack. But this tragedy calls for the same resolve and cooperation that were shown in 2011–2012, the minister remarked.
We planted the seeds for terrorism from the beginning, the defence minister remarked, adding that he would not elaborate further.
When Russia attacked Afghanistan, he claimed, Pakistan gave its services to the US “for rent.” The deal with the US lasted for eight to nine years after which the US returned to Washington to celebrate the defeat of Russia, he continued. At the time, the ruler was General Zia.
On Tuesday, India expressed its condolences for the lives lost in the horrific mosque incident.
MEA spokesman Arindam Bagchi said on Twitter: “India offers its sincere condolences to the families of the victims of yesterday’s terrorist assault in Peshawar. We vehemently condemn this incident, which resulted in a great number of fatalities.”