Flags are flying at half-mast across Pakistan, as the nation marks three days of mourning for the 141 people, most of them children, killed in a brazen attack on a school in the northwestern city of Peshawar.
Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has called a multi-party conference in Peshawar on Wednesday to discuss the state response to the attack, the worst in Pakistan’s recent history, which will be attended by leaders across the political spectrum.
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| Some of the students killed |
The Pakistani Taliban (TTP) has issued a statement saying only the adult sons of military personnel and members of the military had been killed in the raid. The statement included photographs of dead children the group claimed had been killed during military operations in tribal areas.
The group, which had previously justified the attack by saying it was revenge for ongoing airstrikes on areas including northern Waziristan, warned civilians to distance themselves from security personnel or be killed alongside them.
All 132 children killed in Tuesday’s attack are thought to have been between the ages of 12 and 16.
Sharif will now be hoping to form a consensus on military operations against the TTP and its allies, which have been ongoing since June 15.
Al Jazeera’s Kamal Hyder, reporting from the Army Public School in Peshawar, said Tuesday’s attack had been condemned by all of Pakistan’s political parties.
“Even Imran Khan’s opposition party has said they will set aside their political differences during this meeting.
“Pakistan was already at war, a blowback was expected when the army began its campaign [in northern Waziristan] in June, and that blowback seems to be happening now.”
The funerals for the 141 victims of Tuesday’s attacks will be taking place later on Wednesday, he added.
“You must remember that most people will be burying their children,” Hyder said.
All seven Taliban fighters were killed during the military operation to retake the school, officials said.
It was one of the bloodiest attacks in Pakistan’s history.
Most of the younger pupils escaped, as the older students were deliberately targeted in the attack.
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