A police officer was killed, and three others were injured when a roadside bomb targeted a convoy carrying foreign diplomats in Swat, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, on Sunday. The officer, identified as Burhan Khan, died while ensuring the safety of the convoy. Despite the attack, all diplomats, from countries including Bosnia, Russia, and Indonesia, were unharmed, according to Malakand Deputy Inspector General Mohammad Ali Gandapur.
The convoy was attacked near Jehanabad, along Malam Jabba Road, where a police vehicle hit a hidden explosive device. The diplomats were promptly moved to safety and later returned to Islamabad. Reuters reported that nearly a dozen diplomats were in the convoy, which was part of a security detail organized for a visit to the Swat Valley at the invitation of the local chamber of commerce.
Swat district police officer Zahidullah Khan confirmed that the diplomats were en route to Malam Jabba, a hill station and ski resort, when the attack occurred. No group has claimed responsibility for the bombing.
This incident follows a similar attack on July 30 when a United Nations vehicle was fired upon in Dera Ismail Khan. Fortunately, the occupants were unharmed, though the vehicle sustained minor damage.
The Foreign Office confirmed the diplomats’ safe return to Islamabad, condemning the attack and honoring the slain officer. The Russian Embassy in Islamabad corroborated the event, reporting that their convoy encountered a mine in Mingora, resulting in injuries to several police officers but no harm to the diplomats.
President Asif Ali Zardari and Federal Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi condemned the attack, paying tribute to the fallen officer and expressing support for the fight against terrorism.
Pakistan has seen a notable rise in militant activity, especially in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan, following the collapse of a ceasefire with the banned Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) in 2022. The Swat region has been particularly affected, with attacks on police forces becoming more frequent. Last month, a police station in Swat was targeted, leading to protests from locals demanding action against militants. The region has a long history of insurgency, with notable events including the 2012 attack on Nobel laureate Malala Yousafzai.
