Roadside Blast Kills Pakistani Police Officer Escorting Diplomats
A roadside blast caused by an improvised explosive device killed a Pakistani police officer and wounded three others as they were escorting a convoy of foreign diplomats to a tourist area in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province. The convoy, which included diplomats from 12 countries, was passing through the tourist spot of Malam Jabba when the blast occurred, injuring the police officers but leaving the diplomats unharmed.
No group has claimed responsibility for the attack so far, but the area is known to be a base for militant groups, including the Pakistani Taliban. The diplomats were in the region to attend a summit promoting tourism and local industries.
The attack is part of a surge in violence in Pakistan, particularly in the Swat valley, where Islamist militant insurgency has been ongoing. The Interior Ministry reports that as many as 930 people, mostly security personnel, have been killed in terrorist incidents in 2023, with about 2,000 others wounded.