Pakistan hangs seven convicted militants as US secretary of state visits Islamabad: officials
John Kerry tells Pakistan the task of defeating terrorism is 'a difficult one and is not done' as prison officials at three jails around the country confirm the executions
Pakistan on Tuesday hanged seven convicted militants, officials said, raising to 16 the number of executions carried out since Islamabad lifted a six-year moratorium on the death penalty in December.
Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif lifted the moratorium in the aftermath of a brutal Taliban assault on a school in Peshawar that left 150 dead, including 134 children.
The executions, which were carried out across the country, came as US Secretary of State John Kerry visits Pakistan, where he has pledged to boost security and intelligence cooperation for Islamabad’s fight against militancy.
Speaking at a joint press conference with Pakistan’s national security adviser Sartaj Aziz, Kerry said Pakistan deserved “enormous credit” for the operation but warned the task was not yet complete.
“I emphasised that the US is committed to deepening our security relationship with Pakistan in order to eliminate threats in the border area and elsewhere,” the US secretary of state told reporters.
“The tragedy of December 16 is really a reminder of the serious risk of allowing extremists to find space, and be able to command that space and operate within it,” Kerry added.