At least six people including five Chinese nationals were killed after their vehicle was attacked in Shangla’s Besham city, said Malakand’s deputy inspector general of police (DIG) on Tuesday.
Confirming the number of casualties, the DIG said that a suicide bomber crashed his vehicle full of explosives into the car in which the Chinese nationals were travelling.
He said that a Pakistani driver of the car was injured in the attack and was shifted to a local hospital.
Later, the driver succumbed to his wounds during treatment.
The deceased Chinese engineers included a woman.
The Chinese nationals were engineers who were going to Dasu camp, Kohistan from Islamabad, the official added.
Meanwhile, a heavy contingent of security personnel arrived at the incident’s site and cordoned off the area. Security forces have launched a search operation in the area for the suspects.
Authorities Shahrah-e-Karakoram for traffic movement between Basham and Kohistan.
Taking notice of the incident, Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi visited the Chinese embasy in Islamabad and informed the ambassador about the details of the attack and deaths of Chinese engineers.
He also shared the details of ongoing rescue operation on the site of attack.
“The entire Pakistani nation equally shares the grief of their Chinese brothers in this time of sorrow,” Naqvi said, pledging to deal with the elements involved in the attack with iron fists.
He said that the attack on Pakistan-China brotherly ties is not acceptable.
“We will not let the bilateral relations get affected,” he added.
Condemnations pour in
Reacting to the incident, President Asif Ali Zardari strongly condemned the attack and expressed grief over the loss of lives.
“Anti-Pakistan forces will not succeed in harming Pakistan-China friendship ever,” a statement released by official account of President of Pakistan on X, Twitter, quoted Zardari.
Gilgit-Baltistan Chief Minister Haji Gulber Khan also condemned the attack and expressed grief over the loss of lives.
“Attack on chinese citizens is a conspiracy to ruin Pakistan-China friendship,” he added.
Meanwhile, Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari condemned the act of terrorims and deaths of Chinese citizens.
