MOSCOW, February 17. /TASS/. Russian President Vladimir Putin has offered condolences to his Pakistani counterpart Mamnoon Hussain and Pakistan’s Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif on the mosque attack in the Sindh province, the Kremlin said on its website.

"I would like to reaffirm our willingness to further step up counter-terrorism cooperation with our Pakistani partners both on a bilateral basis and as part of broad international efforts," the Russian leader said in a telegram to Pakistan’s leaders. "This barbaric crime cannot be justified. We hope that those behind it will not escape the punishment they deserve."

The Russian leader also asked to convey his sincere sympathy to the families and friends of those who died in the attack and wished a speedy recovery to those injured.

The death toll in Thursday’s terrorist attack in a Sufi mosque in Pakistan’s southern Sindh province has climbed to 74, more than 300 people were injured . According to eye witnesses, the suicide bomber made an unsuccessful attempt to throw a grenade into a crowd of worshippers and then blew himself up. The Islamic State terrorist group (outlawed in Russia) claimed the responsibility for the attack.