US Representative Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, the ranking Republican on the House Foreign Affairs Committee, has said the attack on Sri Lanka cricketers in Lahore is a reminder of the threat of militancy not just to Pakistan, but to the entire world.
"Today's attack in the heart of Pakistan's most cosmopolitan city is a tragic reminder of the threat that violent Islamist extremism and militancy pose to Pakistan, the region, and the world," she said.
Ros-Lehtinen, said, "If requested by Pakistani authorities, I would urge that the FBI and other appropriate agencies of the US government, be prepared to assist law-enforcement agencies in their investigation."
"More broadly," the Congresswoman argued that it was imperative that "all concerned countries must work together with renewed dedication and purpose to ensure that the infrastructure of Islamist militancy and extremism in South Asia is effectively diminished."
Meanwhile, Gordon Duguid, state department spokesman condemned what he described as not only a "vicious attack on innocent civilians", but also "on the positive relations that Pakistan and Sri Lanka are trying to enjoy".
"This is not just an attack on individuals," he said. "This is an attack on peaceful, normal relations, and we utterly condemn this terrorist attack."
Duguid said, "We send our condolences to the families of the victims, and we send our condolences to the injured and the wounded."
The spokesman also lauded the Pakistani police for their bravery saying, "The Pakistani police, I understand, were extremely brave in protecting their charges and should be commended."
