Militants have launched an attack on a bus in northern Pakistan, resulting in the deaths of nine people, including two soldiers, according to local police. The incident, which took place along the Karakoram Highway in the Gilgit Baltistan region, also left over 20 others injured. Authorities have reported that unidentified gunmen targeted a bus operated by a local private company from nearby hills, causing the bus to collide head-on with a goods truck. The collision led to a fire, claiming the lives of both drivers. Two soldiers of the Pakistan Army were also killed, while a police official sustained injuries. Among the injured was a local Islamic cleric named Mufti Sher Zaman.
Following the incident, the injured individuals were transported to nearby hospitals for treatment. The area has been cordoned off by law enforcement authorities, leading to redirected traffic. No group or individual has claimed responsibility for the attack thus far. The Karakoram Highway, which connects Pakistan and China, passes through the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province and has been a historical hotspot for terrorism. Several militant groups, including the Pakistani Taliban, are known to operate in the region.
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Shams Lone, the home minister of Gilgit Baltistan, has labeled the incident an “act of terrorism.” Pakistan’s interim prime minister, Anwaar-ul-Haq Kakar, condemned the attack and assured that “anti-state elements” would not be allowed to disrupt the peace in Gilgit Baltistan. Kakar vowed to continue the fight against terrorists. An investigation has been initiated, led by the chief minister of Gilgit Baltistan, Gulbar Khan.
This attack highlights the ongoing security concerns in Pakistan, particularly in regions prone to militancy. The authorities are committed to maintaining peace and stability in the area and apprehending those responsible for the attack.
