RAWALPINDI, (DNA) – Chief of the Army Staff (COAS) General Qamar Javed Bajwa has said on Sunday that attack on the church in Quetta today is an attempt to create religious cleavages.

Media cell of the military, Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) reported that the Army Chief said that the terror attack on church was an attempt to cloud Christmas celebrations and create religious cleavages.

“Effective response by LEAs is commendable. We stay united and steadfast to respond against such heinous attempts,” ISPR quoted COAS.

Statement of the Army Chief came in after terrorists attempted to storm a Sunday service in a church in capital city of Balochistan province with some 400 people in attendance. Timely action of the security guards deployed at the church saved hundreds of lives, according to Balochistan home minister Sarfraz Bugti.

Nine persons were killed while at least 57 injured as suicide bombers detonated the bombs.