WASHINGTON—Representative Eliot L. Engel, Ranking Member of the House Committee on Foreign Affairs, today made the following statement regarding the terrorist attack on a school in Pakistan:

“I am deeply saddened and outraged by the terrorist attack at Bacha Khan University in Charsadda, Pakistan.  The murder of students and educators is unthinkable, and my heart goes out to all those who have been affected by this tragedy. 

“There's a reason terrorists often target those seeking an education: knowledge and learning expose the false and violent ideologies of violent extremism for what they are.  That's why Pakistani Taliban terrorists shot Malala Yousufzai, and why those same terrorists attacked the Army Public School in Peshawar just over a year ago.  But as students in Pakistan continue to go to school and seek an education, the world sees that terrorist violence and intimidation will not dim the light of learning and will not dampen the remarkable resilience of the Pakistani people.
   
“But no community should have to endure such horrific violence.  Those responsible for this attack must be held to account, and I hope the United States and Pakistan can work together to tackle the challenge of violent extremism.”

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