A roadside bomb targeting a convoy of foreign diplomats killed one Pakistani police officer and wounded three others on Sunday in the Swat district of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, local officials reported.
The improvised explosive device (IED) detonated as the convoy was passing through Malam Jabba, a popular tourist spot and hill station in the region bordering Afghanistan, known for militant group activity including the Pakistani Taliban.
Swat district police officer Zahidullah Khan confirmed the casualties, stating, “One policeman succumbed to his wounds while three others were wounded. Diplomats were travelling within a police convoy, and the lead police vehicle was impacted.”
The convoy included diplomats from 12 countries: Indonesia, Ethiopia, Portugal, Kazakhstan, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Zimbabwe, Rwanda, Turkmenistan, Vietnam, Iran, Russia, and Tajikistan. All diplomats returned safely to Islamabad following the incident.
The diplomats were in the area to attend a summit organized by the local chamber of commerce and industry, aimed at promoting tourism, handicrafts, and gems.
Pakistan’s Foreign Ministry issued a statement acknowledging the attack on the advance scout police vehicle. “Our sympathies are with the families of the policeman. We honor our law enforcement authorities that remain steadfast in the face of terrorists,” the ministry said.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and President Asif Ali Zardari condemned the attack and paid tribute to the fallen policeman.
The Swat valley has long been a focal point of Islamist militant insurgency. Militant groups in the region have intensified their attacks since late 2022, following the breakdown of a ceasefire agreement with the government.
According to the Interior Ministry, terrorist incidents in Pakistan claimed 930 lives in 2023, mostly security personnel, with approximately 2,000 others wounded.
The attack underscores the ongoing security challenges in Pakistan, particularly in regions bordering Afghanistan. As of Sunday evening, no group had claimed responsibility for the bombing.
The incident occurs amid a surge of militant activities in Pakistan. In August, a series of attacks lasting nearly two days resulted in at least 84 fatalities, according to a report by the Islamabad-based Pak Institute for Peace Studies.
As investigations into the attack continue, the incident is likely to prompt reassessment of security measures for diplomatic missions and foreign visitors in Pakistan’s volatile regions.
dw.com
