UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon said Sunday he was "appalled by the escalating terrorist violence in Pakistan," after 19 pilgrims killed in a car bomb and 21 kidnapped soldiers were shot dead.

UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon said Sunday he was "appalled by the escalating terrorist violence in Pakistan," after 19 pilgrims killed in a car bomb and 21 kidnapped soldiers were shot dead.

Ban "condemns in particular the continued violent targeting of religious minorities," according to a statement from his spokesman, Martin Nesirky.

He "also strongly condemns the killing of 21 members of a government-backed tribal police force," kidnapped this week near Peshawar, in the troubled northwest of the country.

"These cruel acts of violence cannot be justified by any cause or grievance," the statement emphasized, saying the perpetrators "should be brought to justice."

Ban assured Pakistan's government and its people of "the solidarity of the United Nations" as well as of "its continued support for their efforts to defend their country's institutions and freedoms in the face of the scourge of terrorism."

A remotely-triggered car bomb in southwest Pakistan hit a convoy of three buses carrying about 180 Muslim pilgrims to Iran to commemorate the Arbaeen of Imam Hussein (as), martyring at least 19 of them and wounding 25 others.

It was one of the deadliest attacks this year against Muslims, who make up about 20 percent of the population of Pakistan.