Pakistan's interior minister today vowed that the country would win the war on terrorism and peace would be restored, saying that the militants had "maligned the name of Islam".
Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan was addressing a public gathering near Rawalpindi.
He said that the government was tightening the noose around terrorists who have resorted to attacking soft targets in utter desperation, Radio Pakistan reported.
"We will further gear up efforts against the terrorists who have maligned the name of Islam through their nefarious acts," he said.
Khan said the terrorists wanted to drive a wedge in the society through acts of terrorism and it is the responsibility of the entire nation and political parties to give a message of unity and unwavering commitment to defeat terrorism.
He claimed that overall law and order had improved since the launch of the military operation against terrorists.
The minister's statement came after criticism of the government for failing to curb militancy, in the wake of the killing of 45 Shia Ismailis in Karachi.
According to officials, militants have killed over 55,000 people in Pakistan in more than a decade of fighting.
