Afghan Taliban condemns Pakistan school attack

KABUL // The Afghan Taliban have condemned a raid on a school in neighbouring Pakistan that left 142 dead in the country’s bloodiest ever terror attack, saying killing innocent children was against Islam.

Survivors said militants shot at children as young as 12 during the eight-hour onslaught in Peshawar, which the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) said was revenge for a major military offensive in the region.

“The Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan has always condemned the killing of children and innocent people at every juncture,” the Afghan Taliban, which often target civilians, said in a statement released late Tuesday.

“The intentional killing of innocent people, women and children goes against the principles of Islam and every Islamic government and movement must adhere to this fundamental essence.

“The Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan expresses its condolences over the incident and mourns with the families of killed children.”

The Taliban groups are loosely connected to each other, with both pledging allegiance to Mullah Omar.

The Afghan Taliban often distance themselves from attacks that kill many civilians, but they also deliberately target non-combatants.

Last week they claimed responsibility for a suicide attack at a theatre show in the French cultural centre in Kabul that killed one person and injured 15.

* Agence France-Presse

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