ISLAMABAD, NOV 13 (DNA) – The government of Pakistan extended deepest sympathies on the grievous loss of precious human lives and injuries caused to hundreds of others by the devastating earthquake that jolted the bordering regions between Iran and Iraq.

In a press statement on Monday, it was stated that both people and government of Pakistan express condolences over the loss of lives and properties in both the neighbouring countries Iraq and Iran. Foreign Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif also conveyed that his thoughts and prayers are with the Iranian and Iraqi brothers who lost their lives in this tragic calamity, it added.

Khawaja Asif prayed for the speedy recovery of the injured. He extended the support and assured cooperation in this regard.

The incident was condoled by saying, “The people and Government of Pakistan firmly stand by our Iranian and Iraqi brethren at this hour of their anguish and pain.”

The 7.3-magnitude quake hit on the Iraq-Iran border area on Sunday night, killing hundreds of people and injuring thousands of others.

Iran took the brunt of it, with at least 336 people killed and 3,950 injured, while in Iraq the quake claimed eight lives and injured 535 others, officials from both countries said.

The quake hit a border area 30 kilometres (20 miles) southwest of Halabja in Iraqi Kurdistan at around 9:20 pm (1820 GMT), the US Geological Survey said.

Most people were at home when the quake struck.