ISLAMABAD: Pakistan on Friday strongly condemned the shooting near the White House in Washington, DC, that killed one US National Guard soldier and critically injured another, calling the incident a “heinous assault” and a troubling sign of resurgent global terrorism.
In an official statement, Pakistan’s Foreign Office expressed deep condolences following the attack, which US authorities say involved an Afghan national. The statement urged the international community to “take note” of the evolving threat landscape and reinvigorate collective counter-terrorism efforts.
“Our thoughts and prayers are with the departed soldier, and we wish the injured a swift and complete recovery,” the Foreign Office said. “We extend heartfelt sympathies to the families affected, as well as to the government and people of the United States.”
US President Donald Trump confirmed on Thursday that Sarah Beckstrom, 20, succumbed to her injuries, while 24-year-old Andrew Wolfe remained in critical condition.
Calling the shooting “undoubtedly an act of terrorism,” Pakistan drew parallels to its own long struggle with militancy. “For the past two decades, Pakistan has endured countless similar terrorist incidents, with clear linkages to Afghanistan,” the statement noted.
Islamabad added that the attack underscores the broader challenges posed by transnational terrorism and signals a troubling resurgence of extremist violence on a global scale.
Separately, President Trump announced on Thursday that his administration intends to “permanently pause” migration from all “Third World countries,” though he offered no details on the scope, criteria, or implementation of the policy. On his social media platform, Trump said the move seeks to allow the US immigration system to “fully recover” and to reverse what he described as “millions” of admissions under former president Joe Biden.
He also claimed he would remove anyone “who is not a net asset to the United States,” without specifying which countries might be affected or clarifying what constitutes a “permanent pause.”
