Pakistan’s hour of grief has turned into a moment of solidarity across the border, as parliamentarians, students and ordinary citizens in India stood in silence as a tribute to the 148 students and teachers killed brutally in a Taliban attack in Peshawar.
Members of the Rajya Sabha and Lok Sabha observed a moment of silence as they passed a resolution condemning the attack that read: “The House resolves that all barbaric terrorist attacks against innocent people, especially vulnerable children, should not be tolerated and calls upon all the nations and each and every one with all the energies at their command to fight against all acts of terrorism in all its forms and manifestations.”
External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj addressed both Houses on the attack, as well as the hostage situation in Sydney on Monday, where two hostages were killed. The Minister called them “manifestations of the darkening shadow of terrorism.” The government had condemned it “swiftly and strongly.” Prime Minister Narendra Modi had spoken to his Pakistani counterpart, Nawaz Sharif, late on Tuesday telling him the people of India stood with them “in solidarity.”
The Pakistani High Commission in Delhi received several diplomats, including National Security Adviser Ajit Doval, who met with High Commissioner Abdul Basit and signed the condolence book. “We are touched by condolences being received from across India,” Mr. Basit told The Hindu . “…We appreciate them and are very grateful.”
Asked if the statements denoted a change in the India-Pakistan relationship that has been frozen since the government called off talks, a senior government official said: “Our concerns remain with regard to Pakistan’s actions on terror, but those concerns can’t stop us from feeling horror and sympathy for our neighbours.”
