Turkey, world condemn deadly attack in Pakistan, death toll exceeds 70

Turkey and political figures across the globe have strongly condemned the deadly attack in Pakistan's Lahore, which targeted Christians celebrating Easter, killed more than 70 people and was claimed by a fraction of the Taliban, Jamaat-ul-Ahrar. 

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdo?an called Pakistani authorities to express his support and released a letter of condolence, Turkey's state-run Anadolu Agency reported. 

"I offer my condolences to Mamnoon Hussain, my friend and the president of Pakistan, to Nawaz Sharif, my brother and the prime minister of Pakistan, and to Shehbaz Sharif, the chief minister of Punjab, as well as the people of Pakistan," Erdo?an said in his statement. 

The president stated the attack would serve as a test for all the world's countries to demonstrate their honest positions in the face of terror. 

"Turkey, as always, stands with Pakistan in this day of sorrow. I wish for all countries to adopt such an open approach towards Pakistan," he said. 

Turkish Prime Minister Ahmet Davuto?lu also sent a message of condolences to Nawaz Sharif and Shehbaz Sharif, vowing that Turkey's support and cooperation with Pakistan in the fight against terror would continue with determination. 

"We carried out the Lahore attack as Christians are our target," Ehansullah Ehsan, spokesman for the hardline Jamaat-ul-Ahrar faction of the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), told AFP by telephone from an undisclosed location.

He said the group would carry out more such attacks, vowing to target schools and colleges alongside government and military interests.

U.N. Secretary General Ban Ki-moon on March 27 condemned the suicide bombing, calling it an "appalling" act of terrorism.

"The...