A policeman was martyred while five were injured on Sunday when their vehicle, part of a convoy escorting dignitaries from 12 countries, was caught in an explosion on Malam Jabba Road in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s Swat district, police said.

Malakand Deputy Inspector General (DIG) Muhammad Ali Khan told Dawn.com that delegations from Indonesia, Portugal, Kazakhstan, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Zimbabwe, Rwanda, Turkmenistan, Vietnam, Iran, Russia, and Tajikistan were part of the convoy.

As a result of the blast, Constable Burhan embraced martyrdom while the injured included Sub-Inspector Sar Zamin Khan; constables Muhammad Khan, Hussain Gul and Amanullah; and driver Rahmatullah.

He added that a heavy contingent of police had reached the incident site and relief work was underway, adding that the affected area had been cordoned off, while the police had started a search operation to look for suspects.

According to the DIG, the explosion was caused by a remote-controlled improvised explosive device (IED).

“All the ambassadors remained safe in the attack and had been shifted to a safe place before their departure to Islamabad,” the DIG told Reuters.

The diplomats were visiting the area at the invitation of a local chamber of commerce.

No one has so far claimed responsibility for the attack.

‘Vehicle hit a mine’

Meanwhile, the Russian Embassy in Islamabad took to the X platform and announced that the vehicle leading the diplomats’ convoy “hit a mine” in Mingora.

“On September 22, Ambassador Albert P Khorev, along with several other Ambassadors, took part in the Swat Tourism Summit organised by the Islamabad Chamber of Commerce & Industry,” the embassy said.

“On the way to the hotel from the town of Mingora in Khyber Pakhtunkwa, an escort vehicle hit a mine. Several policemen were injured, diplomats were not harmed.”

‘We honour our law enforcement authorities’: FO

The Foreign Office (FO) issued a statement confirming that the diplomats safely reached Islamabad whilst condemning the IED attack.

It said that the convoy was travelling to Islamabad after their trip to Malam Jabba when “An advance scout police vehicle was hit by an IED which resulted in a casualty of the police detail”.

“The group of diplomats has returned safely to Islamabad,” the FO statement read. “Our sympathies are with the families of the Shaheed (martyred) policeman and three injured in the incident.

“We honour our law enforcement authorities that remain steadfast in the face of terrorists,” the statement read. “Such acts will not deter Pakistan from its commitment towards the fight against terrorism.”

President, PM condemn attack

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and President Asif Ali Zardari have both issued statements condemning the attack in Swat, Radio Pakistan reported.

The PM prayed for a “higher status in heaven for the police personnel martyred in the attack”, and extended his condolences to the bereaved family.

“I pray for the speedy recovery of the injured personnel and [have] directed that they be provided with all possible medical assistance,” Shehbaz added.

“The entire nation salutes the sacrifices of the police force in the fight against terrorism,” said the PM. “Such cowardly acts cannot shake our resolve to completely eradicate terrorism.”

Meanwhile, President Zardari paid tribute to the martyred police officer and expressed condolences to the bereaved families.

“Terrorist elements are enemies not only of the country and the nation but also of humanity,” he said, expressing the resolve to work towards the elimination of terrorism from the country.

‘Provincial govt encouraging terrorism’

Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Governor Faisal Karim Kundi condemned the attack on the convoy and expressed regret and sorrow while calling out the PTI-led provincial government for not being able to curb terrorism.

“The provincial government is not sincere in establishing peace and their behaviour is encouraging terrorists,” he said. “The attack on the police in Swat is a conspiracy of forces hostile to Islam and Pakistan.”

Rise in terrorist attacks

The country has lately witnessed a sharp uptick in the number of attacks targeting security forces, other law enforcement agencies, and security checkpoints, particularly in KP and Balochistan.

Attacks escalated after the banned Tehreek-i-Taliban (TTP) broke a fragile ceasefire agreement with the government in 2022 and vowed to target security forces.

Last month, the Banr police station in Swat came under a militant attack, which left a policeman martyred and two others wounded.

Reacting to the rise in attacks against the police, residents of Swat and Lower Dir took to the streets on August 17, demanding the arrest of the perpetrators.

Meanwhile, the Swat Qaumi Jirga on August 21 declared that the Malakand division, particularly Swat, would “not tolerate the presence of any terrorist in the region”.

The jirga members had further stated that in case of negligence and failure of the government, the people must be ready to implement the devised plan to protect their lives, property, and honour.

A resolution passed on the occasion strongly demanded that the government provide “reasonable compensation” to the family of the martyred policemen and financial support to those injured in the line of duty.

With additional input from Reuters and Fazal Khaliq.