Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon Tuesday \"strongly condemns the abhorrent\" attack in Pakistan today and in which gunmen reportedly killed 18 people after ordering them off a bus traveling between Islamabad and the town of Gilgit, his press office said in a statement. Extending his heartfelt condolences to the families of the victims of this abhorrent attack, as well as to the Pakistani Government, Ban said the UN stands by Pakistan in its efforts to combat the scourge of terrorism and extremism, which continues to claim the lives of so many Pakistanis\".