The Pakistani Taliban (TTP) on Monday denied any involvement in a bombing attack that targeted a police convoy escorting foreign ambassadors in the restive northwest of Pakistan. The incident occurred on Sunday in Malam Jabba, a ski resort area in the Swat Valley, a region historically associated with Taliban activity.
The convoy, which included ambassadors and senior diplomats from various countries, was traveling with family members when an improvised explosive device detonated, resulting in the death of one police officer and injuries to four others. Fortunately, none of the ambassadors were harmed, but the attack raised serious questions about security protocols.
Mohammad Khurasani, a spokesman for the TTP, stated that their group was not responsible for the attack. Authorities are currently investigating the incident to identify the perpetrators and determine if there was a security breach, as the convoy’s route was known only to police officials. Abdullah Khan, a defense analyst, suggested that information about the diplomats’ travel plans may have been leaked to militants.
“This indicates a significant shift in insurgent tactics, who have traditionally targeted security forces,” Khan noted, emphasizing the need for improved coordination between federal authorities and local police for high-profile visits to volatile areas.
The convoy included representatives from Indonesia, Portugal, Kazakhstan, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Zimbabwe, Rwanda, Turkmenistan, Vietnam, Iran, Russia, and Tajikistan. Following the attack, all diplomats returned safely to Islamabad, according to Pakistan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
This incident follows a recent spike in violence in the region, including a deadly suicide bombing in Shangla that killed five Chinese nationals working on a major hydropower project. In light of these events, security for foreign visitors and officials in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa has been significantly intensified.
Authorities continue to gather information regarding the attack, including details about the planting of the IED. So far, no arrests have been reported in connection with the bombing.
As the investigation unfolds, the incident underscores the ongoing challenges of ensuring security in a region grappling with insurgent activity and a complex political landscape.
