Bomb targets police van in Swat, leaving one cop martyred, four injured

SWAT: A "remote-controlled bomb" struck a police van escorting a group of foreign envoys in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s Swat district on Sunday, resulting in martyrdom of a policeman and injuring four other cops.

District Police Officer (DPO) Zahidullah Khan confirmed the explosion, stating the attack targeted a group of foreign diplomats, resulting in one officer losing his life and four others being injured.

DPO Khan detailed that the affected police van was leading a convoy of 11 foreign diplomats, adding that the martyred officer was identified as Burhan and that the four wounded officers included a sub-inspector of police.

Police officials informed the media that all envoys were safe after the explosion and had been shifted to Islamabad.

They added that the diplomats were heading to Malam Jabba after attending an event at the Chamber of Commerce in Mingora when the explosion occurred in the suburban area of Sherabad.

The police confirmed that the convoy included ambassadors from Russia, Portugal, Ethiopia, Indonesia, Tajikistan, Kazakhstan, Iran, and other countries.

The wounded officers were transported to the District Headquarters Hospital (DHQ) in Saidu Sharif. Heavy contingents of law enforcement agencies were deployed in the area following the incident.

They added that the diplomats were heading to Malam Jabba after attending an event at the Chamber of Commerce in Mingora when the explosion occurred in the suburban area of Sherabad.

The police confirmed that the foreign ambassadors in the convoy included representatives from Russia, Portugal, Ethiopia, Indonesia, Tajikistan, Kazakhstan, Iran, and other countries.

"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.

No one claimed responsibility for the attack.

Condemnations pour in

Meanwhile, President Asif Ali Zardari strongly condemned the bomb blast near a police van in Swat. 

In a statement issued by the President’s House, he paid tribute to the police officer who embraced martyrdom in the attack.

He also expressed condolences to the bereaved family and prayed for the swift recovery of those injured in the explosion.

“Terrorist elements are enemies not only of the country and nation but of humanity itself,” the president said, reaffirming his commitment to continuing efforts for the complete eradication of terrorism.

Denouncing the attack, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif prayed for the elevation of ranks for the martyred policeman in Jannah, as per a statement from the PM Office.

He expressed his heartfelt condolences to the bereaved family and 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," said the PM.

The premier also directed the relevant authorities to provide all possible medical assistance to the injured.

In his message of condemnation, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Governor Faisal Karim Kundi decried the dastardly attack on the convoy, expressing deep regret and sorrow over the loss of life.

“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 in a statement condemned the bombing in Swat and has 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," the CM said.

Gandapur also extended best wishes for the swift recovery of the injured police officers.

"The police have made unparalleled sacrifices while protecting the public’s life and property," said the KP CM adding, "We salute the police officers who sacrifice their lives for the safety of the people."

Foreign Office reaction

The Foreign Office, reacting to the incident, said: “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,” it read.

“Our sympathies are with the families of the shaheed policeman and three injured in the incident,” the FO spokesperson Mumtaz Zahra Baloch said.

“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,” she concluded.

Rise in terror attacks

The nation has been reeling under rising violent attacks since the Taliban rulers returned to power in Afghanistan in 2021, particularly in the bordering provinces of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan.

The two most vulnerable provinces saw a sharp rise in deadly attacks last month, according to data from the Pak Institute for Peace Studies (PIPS).

The digital database of security incidents managed by the Islamabad-based think-tank suggested an alarming situation as the number of attacks jumped from 38 in July to 59 in August.

These incidents included 29 attacks in KP, 28 in Balochistan, and two in Punjab.

Meanwhile, KP witnessed 25 casualties in the 29 terrorist attacks during August.

"The banned Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), Hafiz Gul Bahadur Group, Lashkar-e-Islam, Islamic State-Khorasan (IS-K) and few local Taliban groups were reportedly involved in these attacks," the report stated.

Against this backdrop, the federal cabinet in June this year approved Operation Azm-e-Istehkam, a reinvigorated national counter-terrorism campaign following the Central Apex Committee's recommendations under the National Action Plan to root out terrorism.