WASHINGTON
President Barack Obama on Tuesday condemned an attack on a school in northwest Pakistan “in the strongest possible terms.”
The gun and bomb attack left at least 130 people dead, most of them children.
“The United States condemns in the strongest possible terms today’s horrific attack on the Army Public School in Peshawar, Pakistan,” Obama said in a statement. “By targeting students and teachers in this heinous attack, terrorists have once again shown their depravity.”
Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel said that the U.S. stands with Pakistan following the attack he characterized as cowardly.
"This heartless slaughter of over 100 innocent students and teachers was an act of pure cowardice," he said in a separate statement. "The United States remains committed to supporting Pakistan in its efforts to combat extremism and ensure stability in the region."
The Pakistani army said it killed nine militants and that the attack is finally over, eight hours after it began. The military is currently sweeping the area for possible bombs.
Dressed in the uniforms of a local government-backed paramilitary, the militants started their attack by scaling the school's wall and entering the auditorium where a farewell party was being held for the oldest students who had recently finished their final examinations.
They immediately began firing on the students, killing and injuring many of them. The attack has been claimed by the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan militant coalition, who called it a "response" to the army's anti-militant operations in the North Waziristan tribal area, which began six months ago on June 15.
World leaders condemn Pakistan school massacre
Leaders from all over the world, including the Pakistani Nobel laureate Malala Yousafzai strongly condemned the gun-and-bomb attack.
Yousafzai, who at 17 became the youngest Nobel peace prize winner ever in 2014 and was herself shot by the Pakistani Taliban in 2011 for promoting female education, said she was heartbroken.
“I am heartbroken by this senseless and cold blooded act of terror in Peshawar that is unfolding before us,” she said in a statement.
“Innocent children in their school have no place in horror such as this,” the teenaged global icon said.
“I condemn these atrocious and cowardly acts, and stand united with the government and armed forces of Pakistan whose efforts so far to address this horrific event are commendable,” she said.
“I, along with millions of others around the world, mourn these children, my brothers and sisters – but we will never be defeated,” she added.
Indian child rights activist, Kailash Satyarthi, who shared the 2014 Nobel with Yousafzai, termed the attack as “one of the darkest days of humanity.”
“My heart bleeds for the bereaved families. One of the darkest days of humanity,” Satyarthi tweeted.
“These are all our children who’ve been murdered today. My prayers and condolences are with the families,” he said.
“Children are the first casualty of violence and war. It is time we all came together and put a stop to this violence,” he added.
Pakistan's Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has called for three days of national mourning.
"I feel that until and unless this country is cleansed from terrorism, this war and effort will not stop, no one should be doubtful of this. We have also spoken to Afghanistan about this and we will fight terrorism together," the local Pakistani daily Dawn quoted Sharif as saying when he landed in Peshawar Tuesday evening.
Afghan president Ashraf Ghani termed the school attack as un-Islamic.
“I strongly condemn killing of innocent and cherubic children which is an inhumane, un-Islamic and barbaric,” Ghani said in a statement.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi was one of the first South Asian leaders to react to the unfolding tragedy in neighboring Pakistan.
“It is a senseless act of unspeakable brutality that has claimed lives of the most innocent of human beings – young children in their school,” Modi tweeted.
“My heart goes out to everyone who lost their loved ones today. We share their pain and offer our deepest condolences,” he added.
Senior Kashmiri leader Mirwaiz Umar Farooq condemned the Peshawar attack.
"It is in every way an inhuman and condemnable act, and it is doubtlessly against the spirit of humanity and Islam, and there is no space in Islam for such an act," said Farooq.
The Kashmiri leader is chairman of the All Parties Hurriyat Conference and cleric of Srinagar's Grand Mosque in Indian-held Kashmir. He called for an in-absentia funeral prayers for the slain Pakistani children at his mosque in Srinagar Wednesday.
U.K. Prime Minister David Cameron said he was deeply shocked by the incident.
“The news from Pakistan is deeply shocking. It’s horrifying that children are being killed simply for going to school,” Cameron tweeted.
French President Francois Hollande condemned the brutal attack with “utmost firmness”.
“No words can describe the abjection of such an attack against children in their school,” Hollande said in a statement.
“France stands alongside the victims and their parents. It supports the Government of Pakistan in the fight against terrorism,” he said.
“The United States strongly condemns senseless and inhumane attacks on innocent students and educators, and stands in solidarity with the people of Pakistan, and all who fight the menace of terrorism,” U.S. ambassador to Pakistan Richard Olson also said.
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