By RIA Novosti,
Moscow : Russia President Dmitry Medvedev Wednesday said that Moscow was ready to provide all assistance to Islamabad in its fight against terrorism.
Condemning Tuesday’s suicide car bombing at a hotel in Peshawar that killed 16 people and injured over 50, Medvedev said such terror attacks couldn’t deter Islamabad’s commitment to defeat the militants.
“I have no doubt that this criminal act will strengthen the Pakistani government’s resolve to continue the active struggle with terrorism, where you can count on Russia’s full support,” Medvedev said in a telegram to his Pakistani counterpart Asif Ali Zardari.
On Tuesday three suicide bombers shot security guards before crashing an explosives-laden truck into the five-star Pearl Continental Hotel in Peshawar, the capital of North West Froniter Province.
Sixteen people, including two UN officials and a Spanish national, died and another 60 were injured. Part of the hotel collapsed during the explosion. No group has yet claimed responsibility for the attack.
“We have no doubts that the organisers and perpetrators of this inhuman act will be found and punished. I would like to pass on my sincere sympathy and support to the relatives, and wish for a speedy recovery to all those injured in the tragic events in Peshawar,” Medvedev said.
The recent attack is the seventh since May, when Pakistani forces launched an offensive on Taliban militants in the northwest of the country, which is a hiding place for militants, and has been hit by a number of deadly assaults.