Fight against terrorism will continue: Nawaz Sharif

Peshawar: Terming Tuesday’s terror attack on an army-run school here as an "act of cowardice", Pakistan Prime Minster Nawaz Sharif has said the horrific incident will not stop his government from carrying out military operations against Taliban.

"Operation Zarb-e-azab will continue until terrorism is completely wiped out from the country. We have had talks with Afghanistan about jointly fighting the menace of terrorism," Sharif who rushed to Peshawar, the capital of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, said.

Sharif said such incidents will not deter the determination of the goverment's efforts to defeat terrorism.

"There should be no confusion regarding our "resolve" to defeat the terrorism. Incidents like these will not weaken our resolve. It's a sheer act of cowardice. The country should unite to combat terrorism. There should be no "differences" among the people. The people should prove their unity and there should be no doubt about that," he said.

Sharif said the fight against terrorism had entered a crucial stage and people should pray and support for the success these operations.

"Our fight (against terrorism) has entered a decisive phase and the Zarb-e-azab has been a great success so far. We have gained a lot of ground and whatever little is there for us to achieve, it will also be achieved with great success. People should pray and support these operations," Sharif said.

At least 160 people, mostly students, were killed today in one of the most gruesome attacks in recent years against children anywhere in the world in Pakistan's volatile Peshawar city when heavily-armed Arabic speaking Taliban suicide attackers entered Army Public School on Warsak Road and shot indiscriminately before blowing themselves up.

Meanwhile, Pakistan Foreign Office has strongly condemned today's attack saying such cold-blooded cowardly acts cannot weaken the resolve of the people of Pakistan, the Government, and the armed forces, to combat all terrorists.

"These terrorists are enemies of Pakistan, enemies of Islam and enemies of humanity. The Pakistani nation stands united in condemning this heinous crime and remains resolute in its commitment to eliminate terrorism from the soil of Pakistan," a Foreign Office statement said.

Pakistan Army's chief General Raheel Sharif called the attack a "ghastly act of cowardice" and said the militants have hit at the heart of the nation.

"But let me reiterate they can't in any way diminish the will of this great nation," he said.

"This ghastly act of cowardice of killing innocents clearly indicate they are not only enemies of Pakistan but enemies of humanity," ISPR spokesperson Maj Gen Asim Bajwa quoted Gen Sharif as saying.

He said the army's resolve has taken ‘a new height.’

"(We) will continue go after inhuman beasts, their facilators till their final elimination," said the Chief of Army Staff.

According to a tweet by Maj Gen Bajwa the Pakistan's military today launched several operations, including 10 airstrikes in Khyber Agency, based on "actionable intelligence".