UAE strongly condemns terrorist attack on church in Pakistan

DUBAI, Dec. 18 (Xinhua) -- The United Arab Emirates (UAE) Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation on Monday "strongly condemned the terrorist attack" on a church in the Pakistani city of Quetta, which killed and injured a number of innocent people on Sunday, UAE state news agency WAM reported.

The UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Abu Dhabi and International Cooperation expressed the Gulf state's solidarity with Pakistan. It also said it supports Pakistan in the face of this "criminal and malicious crime."

At least eight people were killed and 44 others injured in a suicide attack at a church in Pakistan's southwest provincial capital of Quetta on Sunday, hospital sources told Xinhua.

Waseem Baig, spokesperson for a civic hospital, told Xinhua through telephone that eight people were killed and 44 others injured in the suicidal blast in Quetta.

The ministry also reiterated the UAE's vehement condemnation and denunciation of all forms of violence and terrorism which targets all regardless of religion and race, expressing its deep and sincere condolences to the families of the victims and wishes for a speedy recovery to all those injured in the attack.

The UAE and Pakistan have enjoyed close political and trade relations for decades. Over 1.2 million Pakistani nationals (or 11.4 percent of the UAE's total population) live and work in the UAE, according to the UAE Ministry of Interior. Enditem