Japan, France condemn Pathankot terror attack

New Delhi: Japan and France on Tuesday joined other countries in condemning the attack at the Pathankot air base in which seven securitymen were killed. The US, China, Pakistan and Afghanistan have already condemned the attack with America asserting that it expects Pakistan to take action against the perpetrators of the terror strike.

"We condemn the terrorist attack. Terrorism cannot be justified for any reason. Japan expresses solidarity with government and people of India," Japan said. The French government said, "France condemns attack on Indian military base; stands alongside India in fight against terrorism."

During a media briefing yesterday, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying said, "We condemn this attack... At this juncture this attack might have been launched intentionally to disrupt this momentum (in Indo-Pak ties). Many media reports have such doubts."

Both Pakistan and Afghanistan have also condemned the attack. While Islamabad issued a statement immediately after the attack on January 2, Afghanistan President Ashraf Ghani called up Prime Minister Narendra Modi yesterday to condemn the strike.

Significantly, Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif called up Modi today and vowed "prompt and decisive action" against the terrorists behind the strike. In a pre-dawn attack, a group of heavily-armed Pakistani terrorists, suspected to be belonging to Jaish-e-Mohammed outfit, struck at the Air Force base in Punjab on January 2.