PARIS, Aug 17 (KUNA) -- The French government on Friday strongly condemned a sectarian attack against a bus in northern Pakistan, which left at least 20 dead and a number of people wounded.
The attack targeted Shiite pilgrims who were travelling in the Naran Valley, near the town of Gilgit, in the north of the country.
The passengers of the bus were summarily executed after being intercepted by unidentified gunmen.
France "calls on the Pakistani authorities to do everything to identify and bring to justice the perpetrators of these crimes carried out against a religious minority," a Foreign Ministry statement said here.
"France also calls on the Pakistani authorities to pursue efforts aimed at eliminating the increase in religious violence and fight against all forms of extremism," the statement added. (end) jk.hb KUNA 171531 Aug 12NNNN