K-P govt unaware of foreign diplomats' presence during deadly Swat blast

The Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) government admitted its lack of awareness regarding the presence of foreign diplomats in Swat, where a deadly attack occurred on Sunday.

During a session of the K-P Assembly, chaired by Deputy Speaker Suraya Bibi, Special Assistant to the Chief Minister on Housing, Dr Amjad Ali, expressed concern over the incident. He revealed that 12 foreign diplomats were travelling in the area without the provincial government's knowledge. "Apart from the DPO and DC, no one was informed. This is not a minor incident," Dr Amjad stated.

He further questioned whether the necessary NOC had been obtained for the diplomats' visit and raised concerns over how the attackers knew about their arrival. "The people of Swat ask how those who planted the bomb knew diplomats were coming. Such incidents seem aimed at deterring tourism in Swat," he added.

On Sunday, a police van escorting the diplomats was targeted by an improvised explosive device (IED) near Malam Jabba, resulting in the death of one policeman and injuries to four others. The foreign ministry in Islamabad confirmed the diplomats' safe return to the capital.

Dr Amjad also addressed the growing unrest in the province, citing interference in institutional politics and ongoing security challenges. "We have been raising these issues, and now they have proven to be true," he said, while also mentioning threats faced by political figures and their families.

In a related discussion, government member Ali Hadi highlighted the deteriorating situation in Kurram, where conflicts continue to escalate. He called for more effective government intervention, stating, "How long will we continue to carry bodies?"