Bishop stands with Pakistan against terror

Julie Bishop has vowed Australia will stand by Pakistan in the fight against terrorism as the country reels from a shocking Taliban massacre at a school.

Around 140 people, mostly children, were shot dead when insurgents stormed the Peshawar school on Tuesday, roaming from classroom to classroom.

The foreign minister has spoken to her counterpart in Pakistan and offered Australia's sympathies as it deals with the horrific attack.

"The killing of children is the most heinous of crimes," Ms Bishop said in a statement.

"We share a common sense of grief and outrage at this senseless attack."

She said such attacks only strengthened the resolve of nations committed to eradicating terrorism.

Earlier Prime Minister Tony Abbott couldn't find the words to describe the mixture of grief and fury felt by people around the world by this latest atrocity.

He said he hoped the bloodshed reminded people who might otherwise be attracted to terrorism that it is never right to kill innocent people.