Quetta church attack attempt to create religious split: COAS

Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Qamar Javed Bajwa condemned Sunday’s terrorist attack at Quetta’s Bethel Memorial Church, calling it “an attempt to cloud Christmas celebrations/create religious cleavages.”

“Quetta church attack targeting our brotherly Christian Pakistanis is an attempt to cloud Christmas celebrations / create religious cleavages. Effective response by LEAs is commendable. We stay united and steadfast to respond against such heinous attempts” COAS,” DG ISPR Major General Asif Ghafoor tweeted after the attack, which killed at least eight people and injured 44.

Home Minister Balochistan, Mir Sarfraz Bugti told Geo News that two suicide bombers stormed the church when prayer service was underway. One of the bombers was shot dead at the entrance. The other suicide bomber blew himself up outside the church hall.

Bugti said that law enforcement agencies took 16 minutes to complete the operation which was led by CCPO, DC Quetta and IGP Balochistan.

Chief Minister Balochistan, Nawab Sanaullah Zehri has ordered a report pertaining to the attack from IGP Balochistan.

The church had organised different programmes all throughout December to mark Christmas, according to its Facebook page, and was holding a ‘Sunday School Christmas Programme’ at the time of the attack.

Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesperson Dr Mohammad Faisal condemned the attack.

"Attack of terrorists on Zarghoon road church in Quetta is condemned. Pakistan’s resolve against terrorism cannot be deterred by these cowardly acts," he tweeted. 

President Mamnoon Hussain strongly condemned the attack and said the terrorists' cowardly attacks will not weaken the nation’s resolve.

Interior Minister Ahsan Iqbal condemned the attack as a sign of “cowardice” and said Pakistan’s enemies want to spread violence in the country.