The Secretary-General strongly condemns the attack in Pakistan today in which gunmen reportedly killed eighteen people after ordering them off a bus travelling between Islamabad and the town of Gilgit.  The Secretary-General extends his heartfelt condolences to the families of the victims of this abhorrent attack, as well as to the Government of Pakistan. The United Nations stands by Pakistan in its efforts to combat the scourge of terrorism and extremism, which continues to claim the lives of so many Pakistanis.