SWAT: A “remote-controlled bomb” struck a police van escorting a gaggle of international envoys in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s Swat district on Sunday, leading to martyrdom of a policeman and injuring 4 different cops.
District Police Officer (DPO) Zahidullah Khan confirmed the explosion, stating the assault focused a gaggle of international diplomats, leading to one officer dropping his life and 4 others being injured.
DPO Khan detailed that the affected police van was main a convoy of 11 international diplomats, including that the martyred officer was recognized as Burhan and that the 4 wounded officers included a sub-inspector of police.
Police officers knowledgeable the media that each one envoys have been protected after the explosion and had been shifted to Islamabad.
They added that the diplomats have been heading to Malam Jabba after attending an occasion on the Chamber of Commerce in Mingora when the explosion occurred within the suburban space of Sherabad.
The police confirmed that the convoy included ambassadors from Russia, Portugal, Ethiopia, Indonesia, Tajikistan, Kazakhstan, Iran, and different international locations.
The wounded officers have been transported to the District Headquarters Hospital (DHQ) in Saidu Sharif. Heavy contingents of regulation enforcement companies have been deployed within the space following the incident.
They added that the diplomats have been heading to Malam Jabba after attending an occasion on the Chamber of Commerce in Mingora when the explosion occurred within the suburban space of Sherabad.
The police confirmed that the international ambassadors within the convoy included representatives from Russia, Portugal, Ethiopia, Indonesia, Tajikistan, Kazakhstan, Iran, and different international locations.
“All of the ambassadors remained protected within the assault and had been shifted to a protected place earlier than their departure to Islamabad,” Deputy Inspector Basic of police Mohammad Ali Gandapur informed Reuters.
Nobody claimed accountability for the assault.
Condemnations pour in
In the meantime, President Asif Ali Zardari strongly condemned the bomb blast close to a police van in Swat.
In an announcement issued by the President’s Home, he paid tribute to the police officer who embraced martyrdom within the assault.
He additionally expressed condolences to the bereaved household and prayed for the swift restoration of these injured within the explosion.
“Terrorist parts are enemies not solely of the nation and nation however of humanity itself,” the president stated, reaffirming his dedication to persevering with efforts for the entire eradication of terrorism.
Denouncing the assault, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif prayed for the elevation of ranks for the martyred policeman in Jannah, as per an announcement from the PM Workplace.
He expressed his heartfelt condolences to the bereaved household and prayed for the swift restoration of these injured within the incident.
“The whole nation pays tribute to the police pressure’s unwavering sacrifices in opposition to terrorism. Such cowardly acts can not shake our resolve for the entire eradication of terrorism,” stated the PM.
The premier additionally directed the related authorities to supply all potential medical help to the injured.
In his message of condemnation, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Governor Faisal Karim Kundi decried the dastardly assault on the convoy, expressing deep remorse and sorrow over the lack of life.
“The sacrifices of our safety forces and police within the conflict in opposition to terrorism won’t be in useless,” he added.
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur in an announcement condemned the bombing in Swat and has sought a report on the incident from senior police officers.
“We share within the grief of the bereaved household. They may obtain full monetary assist; they won’t be left alone,” the CM stated.
Gandapur additionally prolonged greatest needs for the swift restoration of the injured law enforcement officials.
“The police have made unparalleled sacrifices whereas defending the general public’s life and property,” stated the KP CM including, “We salute the law enforcement officials who sacrifice their lives for the security of the individuals.”
International Workplace response
The International Workplace, reacting to the incident, stated: “In the present day a gaggle of diplomats touring to Islamabad after their journey to Malam Jabba and Swat witnessed an incident.”
“An advance scout police car was hit by an IED which resulted in a casualty of the police element. All members of the diplomatic corps have returned safely to Islamabad,” it learn.
“Our sympathies are with the households of the shaheed policeman and three injured within the incident,” the FO spokesperson Mumtaz Zahra Baloch stated.
“We honour our regulation enforcement authorities that stay steadfast within the face of terrorists. Such acts won’t deter Pakistan from its dedication in the direction of the battle in opposition to terrorism,” she concluded.
Rise in terror assaults
The nation has been reeling below rising violent assaults for the reason that Taliban rulers returned to energy in Afghanistan in 2021, notably within the bordering provinces of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan.
The 2 most susceptible provinces noticed a pointy rise in lethal assaults final month, in line with information from the Pak Institute for Peace Research (PIPS).
The digital database of safety incidents managed by the Islamabad-based think-tank recommended an alarming state of affairs because the variety of assaults jumped from 38 in July to 59 in August.
These incidents included 29 assaults in KP, 28 in Balochistan, and two in Punjab.
In the meantime, KP witnessed 25 casualties within the 29 terrorist assaults throughout August.
“The banned Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), Hafiz Gul Bahadur Group, Lashkar-e-Islam, Islamic State-Khorasan (IS-Okay) and few native Taliban teams have been reportedly concerned in these assaults,” the report said.
In opposition to this backdrop, the federal cupboard in June this 12 months authorized Operation Azm-e-Istehkam, a reinvigorated nationwide counter-terrorism marketing campaign following the Central Apex Committee’s suggestions below the Nationwide Motion Plan to root out terrorism.