Photo of the Nanga Parbat base camp. PHOTO: facebook.com/hunzaguidespakistan
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan strongly condemned on Sunday the attack on 10 foreign tourists at a Nanga Parbat base camp in the Himalayan region.
“The government strongly condemns the terrorist attack on foreign tourists and a local who were brutally murdered last night,” a statement from the foreign office said.
An attack, for which the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan claimed responsibility, took lives of tourists belonging to various nationalities. Two Chinese, one Chinese-American, three Ukrainians, two Slovakians, one Nepali Sherpa and one Lithuanian were brutally murdered in the assault.
“Those who have committed this heinous crime seem to be trying to disrupt the growing relations between Pakistan and China and other friendly countries,” the statement added.
Special assistant to the prime minister on foreign affairs spoke to the Chinese and Ukrainian Ambassadors and offered his condolences. The foreign secretary also called on the two ambassadors.
Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif said he condemns such “cruel and inhumane acts”. He ordered a thorough investigation into the incident and said the culprits should be brought to justice.
China’s reaction
China asked Pakistan to “guarantee the safety” of its nationals working in the country and condemned the violent militant attack, the Times of India reported.
The embassy has asked Pakistan to make all-out efforts and apprehend the gunmen as soon as possible. They asked the government to take necessary measures to guarantee the safety of Chinese citizens.
Ukraine’s ambassador to Pakistan Vladimir Lakomov confirmed the Ukrainians killed were believed to be mountain climbers.
Published in The Express Tribune, June 24th, 2013.
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Foreign Office may well be right when it says that the brutal and uncalled for murder of foreign mountaineers may be an attempt by enemies of Pakistan to disrupt our government's growing relations with China and other countries. However, what should one expect from enemies: offer us bouquets and solve our problems?
The important thing to consider is what is our government doing to control extremism and terrorism, apart from issuing condemnatory statements? We are still only talking about developing a comprehensive national policy to deal with the menace.
And we just heard that Sindh government is calling an all-parties conference on Karachi situation, the date of which will be announced after consulting leaders of various political parties. This is the only 'effective' action that the government could think of after running Federal and Sindh governments for five years.
Just shows the seriousness and will of the authorities to deal with a problem which, if not controlled, could end in the dismemberment of Pakistan, with the active cooperation of our enemies who would be only too pleased to extend a helping hand, and in fact have been doing just that for many years now. Obviously, after taking care of Iraq and Syria, they would not want to leave Pakistan in tact, and in possession of nuclear assets.
When will our leaders wake up, if ever they wake up?
Karachi
"Those who have committed this heinous crime seem to be trying to disrupt the growing relations between Pakistan and China and other friendly countries"
When these guys gonna take the name of the TTP openly.