MARCH 16 was an extremely bad day for the 23 Pakistani soldiers, their families, relatives, the Pakistan Army and the country when a bus plunged into the Indus River when its driver lost control of its steering wheel at a sharp turn.

How did this happen? Who had given permission to the owner of the private vehicle to take 23 troops on such a long journey?

Even the Northern Areas Transport Corporation (Natco) is not allowed to take more than 10 army people in one bus.

When an army person travels from Gilgit to Pindi, or Pindi to Gilgit, he has to show the necessary documents to the Natco official concerned.

Our security institution and our army personnel are the target of terrorists. It may have been planned by some terrorist organisation.

As we know Taliban militants and external agencies are working against the Pakistan army and the country. If our soldiers had been careful enough, such an incident could have been easily prevented.

I would like to request all military intelligence and other agencies to probe regarding the incident and make a report soon.

MUSHTAQUE AHMED Karachi