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Speaking about the deadly suicide bombing inside a mosque in Peshawar on Tuesday, Pakistan Defence Minister Khwaja Asif said worshippers were not killed during prayers anywhere, including India, according to the Dawn.
The suicide attack killed 100 people and injured hundreds more.
Asif stated in the National Assembly that “worshippers were not killed during prayers in India or Israel, but it happened in Pakistan.”
On Monday, around 1 p.m., an explosion occurred in the mosque’s central hall.
According to Dawn, the minister said it was time for Pakistan to put its “house in order” in the fight against terrorism.
Recalling terrorism incidents from 2010 to 2017, the minister stated, “This war began in Swat during the PPP’s tenure and ended during the PML-previous N’s tenure, and peace was established in the country from Karachi to Swat.”
But, if you recall, a year and a half or two years ago […] we were given a briefing two, three times in this same hall in which it was clearly stated that talks could be carried out against these people and they could be brought to peace,” he added.
Asif stated that different points of view had emerged on the subject, but that no “conclusive decision” had been reached.
According to the Dawn report, Asif also stated that thousands of people were left jobless after the Afghans arrived and settled in Pakistan, and that the first proof came when the people of Swat protested against the resettled people.
He observed that the Wana people had also protested and shown the same feelings. The terrorist was standing in the first row during Zuhr prayers when he set himself off, the speaker said, adding that he was addressing these occurrences in light of the tragedy that happened yesterday.
According to Asif, the prime minister and the army chief visited Peshawar and were briefed on the attack. “But this is a tragedy that requires the same resolve and unity that we demonstrated in 2011-2012,” the minister said.
We planted the seeds for terrorism from the start, the defence minister remarked, adding that he would not speak for very long.
According to him, Pakistan provided its services to the US “for rent” when Russia attacked Afghanistan. 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.
Meanwhile, India expressed its condolences for the loss of life in the deadly mosque attack on Tuesday.
Arindam Bagchi, the MEA’s spokesperson, tweeted: “The families of those slain in yesterday’s terrorist assault in Peshawar have India’s deepest sympathies. This attack, which resulted in the deaths of so many people, is highly condemned.”
