Kathmandu, Dec 16 (IANS): The Nepal government is shocked to learn of the terrorist attack on a school in the Pakistani city of Peshawar Tuesday that tragically resulted in the killing and injury of a large number of innocent people, mostly students, the ministry of foreign affairs said.

At least 126 people, mostly children, were killed in the deadly attack carried out by the Taliban in Peshawar.

"In line with its principled position of condemning terrorism in all its forms and manifestations, the government of Nepal unequivocally condemns this attack as a heinous act against humanity and maintains the view that terrorism must be firmly and resolutely dealt with wherever and whenever it takes place," the ministry said in a statement Tuesday.

"At this hour of grief, the government of Nepal extends heartfelt condolences and sympathies to the government of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan and through them to the bereaved families and prays for the speedy recovery of those injured," it stated, adding that Nepal believed that the government authorities in Pakistan would be able to free the hostages safely at the earliest.