Foreign Diplomats’ Convoy Attacked in Pakistan Resulting in the Death of a Police Officer

A roadside bomb struck a convoy of foreign diplomats in northwest Pakistan, killing a police officer providing security for the group. The diplomats were visiting the Swat valley area on the invitation of the local chamber of commerce, and included ambassadors from Indonesia, Portugal, Kazakhstan, and other countries. All diplomats were unharmed in the attack, and were safely escorted back to Islamabad. The attack was condemned by Pakistan’s President Asif Ali Zardari, who called the terrorists enemies of humanity. No group claimed responsibility for the attack. Pakistani security forces closed roads and imposed a curfew in the area as they conducted a search operation. The Swat valley has been a stronghold for Islamist militant insurgency, with attacks increasing since late 2022 following the breakdown of a cease-fire. In 2012, the valley gained international attention when Nobel Peace Prize laureate Malala Yousafzai was shot and seriously wounded by Islamist militants. Security forces have been maintaining a strong presence in the area to combat the terrorist threat.

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