United Nations, July 24: UN secretary general Kofi Annan joined world leaders from US, Russia, Pakistan and Britain in condemning the attacks on Vaishno Devi pilgrims and on the Akhnoor Army camp in Jammu and Kashmir. In a statement issued on Wednesday, Annan urged "those concerned" to exercise restraint.
He also expressed condolences to the families of those killed in the twin terrorist attacks.
Condemning the terrorist violence, the US today said it was committed to the permanent end of terrorism in India. "We condemn the brutal terrorist attack that have taken place in Jammu and Kashmir in the past several days, as the Bush administration has said many times, there can be no justification for such evil acts," a release issued by the US Embassy said in New Delhi.
Russia also strongly condemned the attacks saying, "Moscow has received with anger and pain reports of the armed attacks made on July 21 and 22 in the Indian state of Jammu and Kashmir on Hindu pilgrims and the disposition of a unit of the Indian Army, killing more than ten and wounding over forty people."
Pakistan also condemned the attack on Vaishno Devi pilgrims near the base of the hill-shrine at Banganga on Monday. It, however, did not say anything on yesterday's attack on the Army camp near Jammu in which a Brigadier was among the eight Army personnel killed. British foreign secretary Jack Straw also called up External Affairs Minister Yashwant Sinha and expressed his unreserved condemnation for the "terrible acts" of terrorism in Jammu and Kashmir. Bureau Report