When asked to comment on the serious explosion that took place in Pakistan’s capital Islamabad on the afternoon of February 6 local time and inflicted heavy casualties, a spokesperson from China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said on Sunday that China is deeply shocked by the deadly explosion in Pakistan’s capital Islamabad and the heavy casualties it has inflicted. China mourns for the lives lost, and our hearts go out to the injured and those who lost their loved ones.

China strongly condemns the attack, opposes any form of terrorism and firmly supports the Pakistani government in safeguarding national security and stability and protecting the safety of the people.

At least 31 people were killed and around 170 others were injured after an explosion ripped through a mosque during Friday prayers in Pakistan’s federal capital city of Islamabad, Xinhua quoted local police and government officials said.

Confirming the casualties, Deputy Commissioner Islamabad Irfan Nawaz Memon said that the explosion happened in the Shi’ite mosque located in the Shehzad Town area of Islamabad, prompting authorities to impose a state of emergency in all the major hospitals nearby.

He said that the injured are being treated in various hospitals in Islamabad and adjoining Rawalpindi city, adding that the death toll might further rise as several people among the injured are in critical condition, per Xinhua.

Following the blast, security forces, police and rescue teams have cordoned off the site and launched a search operation, with the law enforcers investigating the nature of the explosion.

The US is reportedly compiling a large arms sale of Patriot missiles and other weapons for the island of Taiwan, various opposition parties on the island publicly criticized the regional leader, questioning how much more financial burden he intends to impose on the residents of Taiwan.

Global Times