At least one police officer was martyred, and four others injured on Sunday after an improvised explosive device (IED) targeted a van that was guarding a convoy of foreign envoys traveling to Malam Jabba from Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa’s Swat district.
District Police Officer (DPO) Zahidullah Khan confirmed the detonation to media, saying the attack had targeted a group of foreign diplomats. He said the police van was leading a convoy of 11 foreign diplomats, who were all safe and had immediately returned to Islamabad.
According to police, the diplomats were traveling to Malam Jabba after attending an event at the Chamber of Commerce in Mingora. They said among the diplomats in the convoy were ambassadors from Russia, Portugal, Ethiopia, Indonesia, Tajikistan, Kazakhstan, Iran, and others.
Following the explosion, the wounded were shifted to the District Headquarters Hospital (DHQ) in Saidu Sharif, while heavy contingents of law enforcement agencies were deployed for a clearance operation. No group has, as yet, claimed responsibility for the attack but both Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan are currently in the midst of a terror resurgence following the return to power of the Afghan Taliban in 2021.
Condemnations
In a statement issued by the President’s House, President Asif Ali Zardari strongly condemned the bombing and paid tribute to the police officer who embraced martyrdom in the attack. Offering his condolences to the bereaved family, he prayed for the swift recovery of the injured.
“Terrorist elements are enemies not only of the country and nation but of humanity itself,” the president said, reiterating his commitment for the complete eradication of terrorism.
In a separate statement issued by the Prime Minister’s Office, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif prayed for the soul of the martyred policeman. Expressing his heartfelt condolences to the bereaved family, he prayed for the swift recovery of those injured in the incident. “The entire nation pays tribute to the police force’s unwavering sacrifices against terrorism. Such cowardly acts cannot shake our resolve for the complete eradication of terrorism,” he said and directed the best possible treatment for the injured.
Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Governor Faisal Karim Kundi, meanwhile, expressed deep regret and sorrow over the loss of life in his condemnation of the attack. “The sacrifices of our security forces and police in the war against terrorism will not be in vain,” he added.
Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur also condemned the bombing and sought a report on the incident from senior police officials. “We share in the grief of the bereaved family. They will receive full financial support; they will not be left alone,” he said and conveyed his best wishes for the early recovery of the injured. “The police have made incomparable sacrifices in safeguarding the public’s life and property,” he said. “We salute the police officers who sacrifice their lives for the safety of the people.”
In a statement, the Foreign Office noted the incident targeting a convoy transporting diplomats. “An advance scout police vehicle was hit by an IED which resulted in a casualty of the police detail. All members of the diplomatic corps have returned safely to Islamabad,” it said.
“Our sympathies are with the families of the shaheed policeman and three injured in the incident,” read the statement. “We honor our law enforcement authorities that remain steadfast in the face of terrorists. Such acts will not deter Pakistan from its commitment towards the fight against terrorism,” it added.