The US has condemned the suicide attack at Gulshan-e-Iqbal Park in Pakistan's Lahore city, capital of Punjab province, and said that it is committed to helping Pakistan in the fight against terrorism.
At a press briefing in Washington, US Department of State spokesperson John Kirby on Tuesday described Sunday's attack at a Lahore public park as a "lash out" from a group under pressure from the ongoing military operation by the security forces, Radio Pakistan reported.
Kirby also said that Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif's decision to cancel the US visit was completely understandable. He said that the US stands by the people of Pakistan.
Sharif late Monday cancelled his official trip to the US. He was scheduled to leave for Washington to represent Pakistan at a nuclear summit.
Replying to a question, Kirby said the Pakistani security forces continue to put pressure on Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan militant group, which has claimed responsibility for the attack.
A Pakistani Taliban faction, Jamaat-ul-Ahrar, claimed responsibility for the attack that killed at least 72 people and injured more than 250 others.
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The group said that it deliberately targeted Christians celebrating Easter on Sunday evening.
--IndO-Asian News Service
py/vt