A roadside bomb exploded near a convoy carrying foreign diplomats in Pakistan’s scenic Swat district on Sunday, killing one police officer and injuring three others. The incident occurred as the convoy, which included diplomats from 12 countries, was being escorted through the northwestern region.
Police confirmed that the casualties were part of the security detail leading the convoy. Fortunately, all foreign dignitaries, including ambassadors from Russia, Portugal, Iran, Indonesia, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, Rwanda, Zimbabwe, Turkmenistan, Vietnam, and Bosnia and Herzegovina, were unharmed.
The diplomats were in the area at the invitation of a local chamber of commerce. No group has claimed responsibility for the attack yet, but authorities suspect the involvement of militants linked to the Pakistani Taliban, who have been known to operate in the region. Swat, once a stronghold of the Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), is famous for its breathtaking landscapes and historical sites, attracting both domestic and international tourists.
“All ambassadors were safely moved to a secure location before being transported back to Islamabad,” stated senior police officer Mohammad Ali Gandapur. Pakistan’s foreign office expressed condolences to the families of the deceased and injured officers, noting that the diplomats were returning to the capital when an advance police vehicle was struck by an improvised explosive device (IED).
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif condemned the incident, describing it as a “cowardly act of terrorism.” The Russian Ambassador’s office confirmed his presence in the convoy, stating they were in Swat for a tourism summit. “An escort vehicle hit a mine on the way to the hotel, resulting in injuries to several police officers, but no diplomats were harmed,” the Russian embassy shared on social media platform X.
