Pakistan most affected by violent extremism: Abdul Basit

NEW DELHI, December 16: “The international community must understand our pain. It hurts us when we see Pakistan being painted by some with closed eyes. No other country has suffered the most from violent extremism than Pakistan.”
This was stated by High Commissioner Abdul Basit while speaking at the commemoration ceremony held at the High Commission Wednesday to mark the first anniversary of the martyrs of Army Public School, Peshawar.
High Commissioner Basit said that the Army Public School tragedy was the defining moment; the people of Pakistan would never let the sacrifices made by the young children go waste. We are resolved to eliminate terrorism in all its forms and manifestations. He said “terrorism targets innocent civilians; therefore it cannot be justified whatsoever; we have no option but to fight it to the end”.
The High Commissioner further stated that we need understanding of all to fight this cancer.
“Terrorism is a global, regional, national and local phenomenon; it could not be defeated through half-baked and incoherent strategies. We must transcend our individual and collective biases to eliminate terrorism and ensure that this menace does not resurface anywhere in the world.
During the ceremony one minute silence was observed by the participants and candles were lit in the memory of the martyrs.