Attack on foreign diplomats’ convoy in Swat kills police officer

SWAT: A roadside bomb hit a convoy of foreign diplomats visiting Swat valley on Sunday, killing a police officer in their security detail, police said.

Swat district police officer Zahidullah Khan said the diplomats were visiting the Swat valley area on the invitation of local chamber of commerce.

“The squad that was leading the convoy was hit by a roadside bomb,” he said.

Another four police officers were wounded, Khan said.

All the nearly dozen diplomats were safe and were heading back to Islamabad, police said.

“All the ambassadors remained safe in the attack and had been shifted to a safe place before their departure to Islamabad,” Deputy Inspector General of police Mohammad Ali Gandapur told Reuters.

The nationality of the diplomats was not immediately clear. A Pakistani foreign office spokesperson did not immediately respond to a request for a comment.

No one claimed responsibility for the attack.

Pakistani counter-terrorist forces maintain a strong presence in the Swat valley, which has long been a hotbed of militant insurgency. The militants have stepped up their attacks since late 2022 after breaking a ceasefire with the government.

In 2012, militants shot and wounded Nobel Peace Prize laureate Malala Yousafzai in the valley.

Earlier, the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government approved Rs1 billion to equip the police force with modern weapons and equipment to combat terrorism and lawlessness in the province.

According to the documents, Rs800 million will be allocated for the purchase of 10 armored vehicles, while Rs200 million will be used to acquire the MRAPV.

Meanwhile, Pakistan foreign office spokesperson said in a statement that “Today a group of diplomats traveling to Islamabad after their trip to Malam Jabba and Swat witnessed an incident. 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.”

The statement said: “Our sympathies are with the families of the shaheed policeman and three injured in the incident.”

“We honour 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 said.