PESHAWAR: While the provincial government has repeatedly claimed it was unaware of the recent visit of foreign diplomats to Swat district before a terrorist attack targetted them, the assertion is contradicted by a formal letter from the Foreign Office to the home department.

In the Sept 9 letter, the Foreign Office informed the home department about the diplomats’ Swat visit on Sept 22 along with a delegation of the Islamabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry and requested security arrangements for them.

The letter, a copy of which is available with Dawn, revealed that the Foreign Office received a formal request from ICCI president Ahsan Zafar Bakhtawri on Sept 5 for security regarding the envoys’ Swat tour.

“It is requested to ensure the required security arrangements under the rules, policy and prescribed SOPs [standard operating procedures] during the visit/stay of foreigners in your area of jurisdiction, please,” the letter read.

Home dept was informed about Sept 22 tour along with security request on Sept 9

On Sept 22, a convoy of ambassadors from 12 countries was targetted by an improvised explosive device on the Malam Jabba Road in Swat.

Though the diplomats remained unhurt, a police mobile van escorting them was hit by the bomb blast, martyring a policeman and injuring five others.

The foreigners later left for the federal capital without police escort for fear of another terrorist attack.

Spokesman for the provincial government Barrister Mohammad Ali and provincial housing minister Dr Amjad Ali claimed that their government was not informed about the envoys’ visit, triggering a controversy.

In a provincial assembly session, Dr Ali wondered how militants learned about the presence of foreign diplomats in Swat when the provincial government, local media and residents were unaware of it. He claimed that the people learned about the attack only after the international media reported it.

Mr Saif echoed the assertion and said had the federal government informed the provincial government about the visit in advance, the latter would have taken proper measures for the security of visitors.

Senior officials contradicted the claim, insisting the visit and a security plan for it were communicated to the provincial government in advance though proper channels.

INQUIRY PANEL FORMED: The provincial government on Wednesday formed a fact-finding committee to look into the Swat attack on foreign diplomats.

The committee comprises special secretary of the home department Zubair Ahmad and additional inspector general (investigation) Mohammad Alam Shinwari and will submit its report within seven days, according to an official notification.

Also in the day, provincial Governor Faisal Karim Kundi wrote a letter to ambassador of Turkmenistan Atadjan Nurlyevich Movlamov and condemned the Swat attack.

“We [the government] understand that incidents like the Swat explosion could raise concerns. Immediate and robust measures are being taken to enhance security across the region,” he said, inviting the Turkmen envoy to visit the Governor’s House.

The governor said the government was actively investigating the circumstances surrounding the attack and would work tirelessly to bring culprits to justice.

“We understand the importance of safeguarding foreign visitors and are reinforcing our security measures to prevent such incidents in the future,” he said in the letter.

Published in Dawn, September 26th, 2024