Iran Condemns Terrorist Attack in Pakistan

TEHRAN (defapress) - Iran’s Foreign Ministry condemned a Friday terrorist attack in the Pakistani city of Parachinar, saying the massacre of fasting Muslims on the International Quds Day reveals the partnership between terrorism and Zionism.

News ID: 65210

Date: 24 June 2017 - 13:46

In a statement on Friday evening, Foreign Ministry Spokesman Bahram Qassemi expressed Iran’s condolences to the Pakistani government and nation and the families of victims of twin explosions in a busy marketplace in Parachinar that killed at least 37 people and wounded more than 150 others.

The fatal bomb attacks, minutes apart, took place at Toori Bazar in the town of Parachinar, capital of Kurram tribal district, during rush hour on Friday, which was marked as the International Quds Day, an annual display of solidarity with Palestinians.

"On a day that the world Muslims perfectly voiced support for the causes of Palestine and opposition to the Zionist regime (of Israel) with their unifying demonstrations, the terrorists butchered the fasting people of Pakistan to serve the interests of the Zionist regime, and demonstrated the alliance between terrorism and Zionism,” Qassemi deplored.

The blasts in Parachinar came on the final Friday of the Islamic holy month of Ramadan, just days ahead of Eid-al-Fitr, one of holiest Muslim festivals.

There was no immediate claim of responsibility for the attack.

The third major attack to rock Parachinar this year, the blasts struck hours before iftar, when the streets are often crowded with people shopping for food to break their fast with the evening Ramadan meal.

Targeted killings against Shiite Muslims in Pakistan have drawn international outrage, with rights groups and regional countries expressing concern over the growing violence.

Shiites are seen as a minority group in Pakistan. They make up roughly 20 percent of the country’s population of 185 million.\