Pakistan condemns 'heinous terrorist attack' on church in Jordan

Pakistan firmly denounced a recent terrorist assault on a church in Jordan's Karak province, which claimed multiple lives and left numerous others wounded, the Foreign Office (FO) declared in a statement. A day prior, seven individuals were killed and 34 injured when gunmen targeted a funeral procession at Hamoud Church, marking a rare incident of violence against Jordan's Christian community.

Pakistan conveyed its deepest sympathies to the Jordanian government and populace, as well as to the affected families, over the irreplaceable loss of loved ones.

The FO also offered its heartfelt wishes for the injured individuals' swift recuperation. Reiterating its unwavering support for the Jordanian people in their ongoing battle against terrorism, the FO refuted any association between the culprits and known extremist groups. An eyewitness recounted the assailants arriving in a vehicle, firing continuously for five minutes before abandoning the scene. The church held between 150 and 200 people at the time, predominantly aged between 50 and 70.

King Abdullah visited Karak shortly after the incident, vowing the perpetrators would face the most severe consequences and warning that efforts to divide Jordanians would be futile. The Jordanian Prime Minister stated the attack stemmed from "terrorist extremist blind thinking."