Ankara Honors APS Peshawar Martyrs in Commemorative Ceremony

A solemn ceremony was held at Keçiören Orman Park, Ankara, to honor the memory of the 144 schoolchildren and staff martyred in the tragic Army Public School (APS) Peshawar terrorist attack on December 16, 2014. The event was attended by Pakistan’s Ambassador Dr. Yousaf Junaid, Keçiören Municipality Deputy Mayor Atilla Zorlu, civil society members, and officials from the Pakistan Embassy and Keçiören Municipality.

Ambassador Dr. Junaid reflected on the horrific attack, calling it “an act against humanity” and reaffirming Pakistan’s strengthened resolve to combat terrorism. He highlighted the nation’s successful anti-terrorism operations and stressed the need for unified global efforts to counter terrorism in all its forms. The ambassador also drew attention to the plight of Kashmiris in Indian-Occupied Jammu and Kashmir and the ongoing genocide in Gaza, condemning these acts of state terrorism.

Dr. Junaid expressed deep gratitude to the Turkish people for their unwavering solidarity. He praised the symbolic planting of 144 trees in Keçiören Orman Park in January 2015, a tribute to the young lives lost, underscoring the shared resolve of Pakistan and Turkiye in their fight against terrorism. He also reaffirmed Pakistan’s support for Turkiye following the October 2024 terrorist attack on the TUSAS facility in Ankara.

Deputy Mayor Atilla Zorlu expressed Turkiye’s solidarity with Pakistan, condemning the APS attack as “brutal and inhuman.” He reiterated Turkiye’s commitment to standing with Pakistan in all aspects, especially in combating terrorism.

The ceremony concluded with a wreath-laying at the APS memorial and a prayer for the martyrs. The enduring partnership between the two nations, rooted in shared sacrifices and mutual support, was prominently reflected throughout the event.