THE Pakistani Taliban on Monday (23) denied carrying out a bomb attack on a police convoy escorting foreign ambassadors that killed a policeman.
Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) said it had “nothing to do with the attack” in the northwest of the country, which also wounded three other officers.
The convoy of more than 10 foreign ambassadors was passing through the picturesque town of Malam Jabba in the Swat district when it was hit by a roadside bomb. Top diplomats from Russia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Portugal, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Iran, Ethiopia, Rwanda, Zimbabwe, Indonesia and Vietnam were part of the foreign convoy.
In a statement, the Russian embassy said its ambassador was taking part in the trip along with several other ambassadors.
The foreigners were unhurt in the incident and later returned to Islamabad, Pakistan’s foreign office said last Sunday (22).
Police officials said the trip was organised by Islamabad and Swat’s Chamber of Commerce to promote the region’s local industries, including handicrafts and gemstones. Swat – a snowcapped mountain valley split by turquoise waters – is one of Pakistan’s most famed beauty spots, but its reputation has a dark side.
In 2012, Malala Yousafzai was shot in the head by the TTP while campaigning as a schoolgirl for education, activism that later earned her the Nobel Peace Prize.
The Pakistani Taliban historically has roots in Afghanistan.
From 2007 to 2009, they killed thousands of civilians and seized control of several districts before being driven back by the military.
Pakistan has witnessed a dramatic uptick in attacks since the Taliban seized control in 2021 of Kabul, but diplomats are rarely targeted in such attacks.
Islamabad says such offensives are being launched from Afghanistan, which the Taliban authorities deny.
Davindra and Seema Misra, and Vijay and Gita Parekh
Varchas Patel with his father Vipin and mother Jayshriben
Hasmukh Shingadia and his wife Chandrika were all victims of the Horizon scandal
During the hearing, Clifford denied all the charges except for the rape charge, which was added to the indictment at the session. (Photo: Hertfordshire Police /Handout via REUTERS)
Man pleads not guilty to murder of BBC presenter's family
A 26-year-old man has pleaded not guilty to charges of murdering the wife and two daughters of BBC sports commentator John Hunt in a crossbow and knife attack.
Kyle Clifford, who also faces charges of rape, appeared via video link at Cambridge Crown Court on Thursday.
Clifford, arrested in July after a manhunt, is charged with three counts of murder, one count each of rape and false imprisonment, and two counts of possessing offensive weapons – a 10-inch knife and a crossbow.
During the hearing, Clifford denied all the charges except for the rape charge, which was added to the indictment at the session.
He is expected to enter a plea for that charge at a later date.
The victims were Carol Hunt, 61, wife of horseracing commentator John Hunt, and their daughters Louise, 25, and Hannah, 28.
An earlier hearing revealed that Louise had been found tied up and that both she and her sister had been shot with a crossbow, while their mother had been stabbed with a knife.
The fatal attack occurred at the family’s home in Bushey, a commuter town near Watford, northwest of London.
(With inputs from AFP)