Iran condemns terrorist attack in Pakistan’s Parachinar

Iran’s Foreign Ministry condemned a Sunday terrorist attack in Pakistan that killed 23 people at a market in the predominantly Shiite city of Parachinar.

Foreign Ministry Spokesman Hossein Jaberi Ansari expressed Iran’s condolences to the Pakistani people and government and families of the victims of the deadly attack.

He said such heinous acts are meant to serve the interests of the enemies of Pakistan and the Islamic world, adding, “Terrorists seek to upset peace and stability in Pakistan.”

The spokesman expressed hope that appropriate policies would be adopted to prevent the repetition of such acts of terrorism.

The Sunday bomb blast at a crowded bazaar in Parachinar city, in Pakistan’s northwestern province of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, killed 23 people and wounded several others.

The Lashkar-e-Jhangvi Takfiri terrorist group claimed responsibility for the attack, saying it had planted an IED (improvised electronic device) at the market.

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.