Prime Minister condemns Islamabad blast

New Delhi, Sept 21 : Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh on Sunday condemned Saturday's Marriott Hotel suicide attack in Islamabad.

Dr. Singh in a letter to his Pakistan counterpart has expressed shock over the attack. He said such forces threaten the peace, stability and development of each of us individually.

The Prime Minister said, "I write to express our deep shock and sorrow at Saturday's attack at the Marriott Hotel in Islamabad that has claimed so many innocent lives and injured several others. We strongly condemn this act of terrorism. Such attacks are a grim reminder of the challenges we face from destructive forces, which have pitted themselves against the values of democracy and pluralism and the voices of moderation."

"They threaten the peace, stability and development of each of us individually and all of us collectively. We must not allow such forces to succeed. They must be dealt with and brought to justice," he added

At least 53 people were killed and 266 others injured in Saturday's bomb blast in Islamabad, Pakistan's Prime Minister's Interior Affairs Adviser Rehman Malik confirmed it on Sunday.

While talking to the media in Islamabad today, Malik said 600 kilogrammes of TNT and RTX explosives were used in the attack, which he termed the as largest blast in Pakistan, but denied that there was a security lapse.

He also termed the attack as a well-planned action to sabotage country's progress and economy.

ANI