Iran decries terrorist attacks in Pakistan

Iranian Foreign Ministry Spokesman Abbas Araqchi has condemned the recent terrorist attacks in the Pakistani cities of Karachi and Peshawar that left dozens of people killed or wounded. In a Saturday statement, Araqchi expressed condolences to the Pakistani government and people, including the families of the victims. “Undoubtedly, it is the enemies of the people and the government of Pakistan that are fanning the flames of sectarian and religious conflicts in the country in an attempt to fulfill the sinister objectives of the enemies of the Islamic Ummah,” Araqchi said. At least 15 people were killed and over two dozen severely injured in a bomb attack on a Shia mosque and religious seminary in Pakistan's northwestern city of Peshawar on Friday. Local security officials said the attack occurred when people were performing Friday prayers on the outskirts of the city. Elsewhere in the southern port city of Karachi, at least four people were killed and four others wounded on Friday after a number of unidentified militants exchanged fire with each other and hurled hand grenades at a group of police officers that arrived at the scene. Human Rights Watch says more than 400 Shias were killed in Pakistan in 2012, which was the deadliest year on record for the Shia Muslim community. Reports say the anti-Shia terrorist group of Lashkar-e-Jhangvi (LeJ) was behind most of the attacks on Shia Muslims in Pakistan. The killing of Shias has caused international outrage, with rights groups and regional countries expressing concern over the ongoing deadly violence.