Eight bus passengers killed by gunmen in northern Pakistan : Analysis

Unknown gunmen attacked a bus near Chilas in northern Pakistan, resulting in the death of eight passengers and the injury of around 20 others, as confirmed by district and regional officials. As stated by Muhammad Ali Johar, a spokesperson for the regional government, the assailants opened fire on the bus on Saturday evening, and the wounded individuals were transported to a local hospital. Additionally, according to Ghulam Abbas, a representative for the Gilgit-Baltistan Police, two soldiers were among the deceased. Abbas also reported that 26 passengers sustained injuries in the attack, some of them caused by bullet wounds.

The bus was en route the Karakoram Highway, one of the highest roads globally. Officials have shared that the incident occurred at approximately 6:30 pm (13:30 GMT) when the attackers fired upon the bus, leading it to collide with an oncoming lorry. No group has claimed responsibility for the attack at this time, and the motive behind the shooting remains uncertain.

Haji Gulbar Khan, the chief minister of Gilgit-Baltistan, declared in a statement that the government would ensure that the terrorists involved in the attack face appropriate punishment. Chilas, located in the mountainous region of Gilgit Baltistan near Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, has seen an increase in attacks in recent years, some of which were claimed by the Pakistani Taliban or Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP). Chilas is a popular tourist destination and is also located near a China-backed dam currently under construction.

This assault aligns with the growing trend of armed attacks occurring across Pakistan, particularly in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and southwestern Balochistan, as reported in an uptick in incidents. In July, a suicide bomber detonated explosives at a political rally in Bajaur district, resulting in the deaths of at least 44 individuals and the injury of nearly 200, as confirmed by officials. Additionally, last month, a Pakistan Air Force base faced an attack in central Punjab province, which the military successfully repelled.

Sources:

– Muhammad Ali Johar (spokesperson for the regional government)
– Ghulam Abbas (spokesperson for the Gilgit-Baltistan Police)
– Haji Gulbar Khan (chief minister of Gilgit-Baltistan)
– Article includes information from district and regional officials
– dpa (news agency)

Source: Aljazeera news: Gunmen kill eight bus passengers in northern Pakistan

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