ASEAN member states strongly condemn the bomb attack in Lahore, Pakistan, on March 27, which claimed the lives of at least 65 people and injured many others.

A Pakistani soldier guards in front of a park in Lahore on March 28

The ASEAN Secretariat on April 1 released the ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ joint statement on the Lahore bombing. In the statement, the bloc’s countries extended their deep sympathies and condolences to the Pakistani Government and people, particularly families of the victims.

“ASEAN underlines that terrorism in no circumstances should be linked with beliefs or religions, and reiterates that terrorism and violence in all their forms and manifestations, regardless of their motivation, wherever, whenever and by whomsoever they are committed are inhumane and intolerable,” the ministers statement noted.

They once again stressed the urgency to intensify regional and international cooperation in the fight against terrorism, extremism and radicalism

Source: VNA