KARACHI (APP) - President Asif Ali Zardari on Wednesday telephoned Afghan President Hamid Karzai and condoled with him the assassination of former Afghan president and head of the Afghan High Peace Council Prof Burhanuddin Rabbani in a suicide attack in Kabul on Tuesday. The president said he was deeply grieved over the tragic assassination of Prof Rabbani who, he said, was personally known to him and met him several times. Condemning the assassination as a 'senseless and despicable act, the president said all peace loving people were shocked and grieved over the assassination. He said Professor Rabbani was a friend of Pakistan and the people of Pakistan were with the people of Afghanistan in this hour of distress and agony. Professor Burhanudin laid down his life for the cause of peace and reconciliation, the president said, adding his sacrifice would not go in vain. He said the assassination would not deter peace-loving people from pursuing the path of peace and reconciliation. Rather, it should strengthen our common resolve to pursue the path of peace, President Zardari said to Hamid Karzai. Zardari said he wanted to personally come for the funeral but he could not do so due to floods in Sindh. The Afghan president thanked President Zardari for his gesture.