Pakistani security forces ended a standoff with militants holed up inside a police compound in the northwestern part of the country on Saturday.

The standoff began Friday after a suicide bomber drove a vehicle packed with explosives into the complex in Kohat, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, near the country’s border with Afghanistan.

Gunmen followed the vehicle, killing 21 people and wounding 103 others.

The compound houses offices of the Counter Terrorism Department and living quarters for counterterrorism officers who have carried out operations against militants across the province in recent years.

The coordinated attack occurred during traditional Friday prayers, and many of the dead and wounded were either police or worshippers.

Crux Now spoke with Bishop Samson Shukardin of  Hyderabad, President of the Pakistan Catholic Bishops’ Conference, who condemned the violence and offered his condolences and prayers for the victims and their loved ones.

“I extend my condolences to all those who have died, their families and survivors,” Suhardin said.

“We pray that the Almighty God grants them peace and I pray for consolation and healing of their families.”

“I also condemn the terrorists who carried out this attack,” he said. “What they have done is not right or good. It is against humanity and should never happen,” Suhardin said.

“People go to mosques to pray,” he said, “they go seeking peace.”

“Such places of prayer should be places where people feel safe,” the bishop also said, noting as well that Pakistan is “already suffering greatly because of terrorism and the many disasters and difficulties facing the country.”

“Afghanistan and Iran are also restless,” he said – Pakistan shares borders with both countries – “so our prayer is for peace – that Pakistan becomes a peaceful country, that people respect each other.”

“People are very good in Pakistan,” he said, “they want to have peace with all countries.”

“So we, as a Bishops’ conference, also feel that there should be peace, and also pray that they should peace.”

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