At least nine were killed and 26 injured when unidentified armed men opened fire on a bus in Chilas city of Gilgit Baltistan on Saturday, an official said.
Deputy Commissioner of Diamer Arif Khan said that the passenger bus came under attack around 06:30 pm near the Hadur area while traveling on the Karakoram Highway.
The bus, en route from Ghizar district to Rawalpindi, carried passengers from various regions including Kohistan, Peshawar, Ghizer, Chilas, Skardu, and Sindh, adding a diverse dimension to the affected travelers. Arif Khan mentioned that following the attack, the bus ignited in flames and tragically collided with an oncoming cargo truck.
The ill-fated bus, identified by registration number BLN-4647, belonged to a private company. Shedding light on the aftermath, the Director Health of Diamer, Shakeel Khan, conveyed that the bodies of the deceased and the 26 injured were swiftly relocated to Chilas, marking the distressing consequences of this heart-wrenching incident.
Minister Accuses Kabul Of Playing A ‘Double Game’ In Addressing Cross-Border Terrorism
Meanwhile, Balochistan caretaker Minister for Information Jan Achakzai has accused the Afghan government of playing a double game and not taking the issue of terrorists using Afghan soil for attacks in Pakistan seriously.
During a press conference on Saturday, Achakzai mentioned that Pakistan has repeatedly requested the Afghan government to hand over terrorists listed by Islamabad, but there has been no positive response from Kabul.
Achakzai warned that Pakistan is prepared to go to any extent to address its demands. He pointed out that Afghan nationals were found involved in recent terrorist attacks in Bannu, as evidenced by Afghan identity cards discovered by investigators. He stated that Afghan refugees, holding their country’s ID cards and other documents, have become security risks and will face deportation.
Highlighting the responsibility of the Taliban government, Achakzai stressed that they must prevent any group from using Afghan soil for attacks in Pakistan. He declared that no Afghan would be allowed to enter Pakistan without a passport and visa.
