A roadside bomb targeted a convoy of foreign diplomats visiting northwest Pakistan, killing a police officer in their security detail. The diplomats were on their way to a tourist resort in the Swat valley area when a police van escorting their convoy was hit by an improvised explosive device. Fortunately, all of the foreign ambassadors, including those from Indonesia, Portugal, Kazakhstan, and others, were safe. The diplomats were immediately rescued and moved to Islamabad. The Pakistani foreign ministry confirmed that all members of the diplomatic corps returned safely. Pakistan’s President condemned the attack, calling the terrorists enemies of humanity. No group claimed responsibility for the attack.
Following the incident, police and the Pakistani army conducted a search operation in the area and imposed a curfew. The Swat valley has been a hotbed of Islamist militant insurgency, with attacks increasing since late 2022 after a cease-fire was broken. In 2012, Nobel Peace Prize laureate Malala Yousafzai was shot and seriously wounded by Islamist militants in the same area. Pakistani counterterrorist forces maintain a strong presence in Swat to combat militant activities. The attack highlights the continued threat of terrorism in Pakistan and the challenges faced by security forces in the region.
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