At least 10 foreign tourists were killed by terrorists in Pakistan’s Gilgit-Batltistan region on Sunday, prompting China to ask Pakistan government to ensure safety of its citizens in the country.

Islamabad, June 24/Nationalturk- After the killing of 10 foreign tourists in Pakistan’s Gilgit-Batltistan region, Pakistan’s ‘all weather ally’ China has asked the country to ensure safety of its citizens in Pakistan while United Nations Secretary General has demanded that attackers should be brought to justice.

A group of heavily armed militants overran a mountaineering base camp in Pakistan’s Gilgit Baltistan region. “The terrorists fired on foreign tourists  at the foot of Nanga Parbat, the 9th tallest peak in the world, in the early hours of Sunday (June 23),” a security official said.

He said 11 persons including 10 foreigners were killed in the terrorist attack. “Among the victims included two from Chinese, one was Chinese-American, six were Ukrainians, one from Nepal and a Pakistani cook”.

Officials said the terrorists held the staff hostage and then started killing foreign tourists before making their escape.

Police officials said official contingents of paramilitary Rangers and police have launched a massive manhunt to track down the attackers in the areas around Nanga Parbat.

“Security at the rivulet around Nanga Parbat has been increased to avoid a repeat of such incidents in future”.

Pakistan’s interior Minister Chaudhary Nisar Ali told reporters that security forces using military helicopters had retrieved the Chinese national, who was later shifted to a safe place.

He said the attackers were dressed as Gilgit Scouts and reached the area by abducting two guides. “One guide was killed in the shootout. One is alive. He is now detained and being questioned”.

The Himalayas in northern Pakistan offer some of the most spectacular climbing in the world. Its peaks are a magnet for experienced mountaineers, often from Europe.While Gilgit-Baltistan has seen deadly sectarian violence between Shia and Sunni Muslims but  foreigners were never targeted in such a remote part of the region, which officials said was inaccessible by road.

Reacting to the killing of tourists by militants, China has asked Pakistani government to guarantee the safety and legitimate rights of Chinese citizens in Pakistan.

China’s Foreign Ministry spokesman strongly condemned a violent attack .

“The Chinese Embassy in Pakistan was in close contact with Pakistan’s Foreign Ministry, Interior Ministry and military to further verify information related to the incident,” the spokesman said.

The spokesman asked Pakistan to make all efforts to take care of the survivors, apprehend the gunmen behind the attack and guarantee safety of Chinese citizens in Pakistan.

China is a major ally of Pakistan and has been supporting it on all fronts.

Attack has damaged country’s image: Pakistan

Pakistan Foreign office spokesman said the incident has damaged Pakistan’s image before the world.

“The Government of Pakistan expresses its deep sense of shock and grief on this brutal act of terrorism, and extends its sympathy to the families of the victims,” he said adding the incident was example of barbarism and inhumanity.

He said Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has ordered an immediate inquiry into the incident and arrest of the culprits.

“Those who have committed this heinous crime seem to be attempting to disrupt the growing relations of Pakistan with China and other friendly countries. Pakistan’s ties with China would not affected by this incident,” he said adding militants wanted to damage Islamabad’s relations with China.

The spokesman said Special Assistant to Prime Minister of foreign affairs spoke to the Ambassadors of China and Ukraine condoled the death of tourists hailing from China and Ukraine.

Bring attackers to justice: UN chief

The United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki Moon has strongly condemned the killing of foreign tourists in Pakistan’s Gilgit-Baltistan region.

While expressing serious concern over the incident,  he urged Pakistan government to take immediate measures to bring the perpetrators to justice and to ensure security.

Ban extended his condolences to the victims and their families.

He reiterated  support of the UN to the Pakistani government in the face of terrorism and extremism.

TTP, Jundullah claim responsibility

Two militant groups Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan and Jundullah have claimed responsibility for the attack.

Pakistan’s deadly militant group Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) claimed responsibility for the killing of 10 foreign tourists and their guide in Gilgit-Balitistan.

“The group’s faction named Junud-e-Hafsa carried out the brutal attack. The killing was revenge against the US drone attacks and killing of TTP chief Waliur Rehman Mehsud,” TTP spokesperson Ehsanullah Ehsan was quoted as having said by Pakistan’s newspaper, Express Tribune.

He said the incident will tell the international community about “our feelings and sentiments against the killing of our fighters”.

According to media reports militant group Jundullah, which mostly operates in Iran, also claimed responsibility for the attack.

Media reports had quoted the group’s spokesman, Ahmed Marwat, as saying “These foreigners are our enemies and we proudly claim responsibility for killing them and will continue such attacks in the future as well.”

The militant group had claimed responsibility for a series of attacks in northern Pakistan in recent years, mostly on Shias.

Pakistani security officials said the attack would mostly likely be the handiwork of TTP.

Tour operators criticize security agencies

The tour operators of Pakistan have criticized country’s law-enforcement agencies for not doing enough to apprehend the attackers involved in killing of foreign tourists.

“There were three zones in the mountains of Gilgit-Baltistan. Siachen and mountains along the border of Afghanistan are a ‘prohibited’ area. Mountains over 6,500 metre high are in ‘restricted’ area and mountaineers cannot go there without obtaining permits from the Gilgit Baltistan Council after security clearance. However, the areas lower than 6,500 metres are open and anyone is allowed to go there,” owner of the Fairy Meadow Tours Ghulam Nabi told Pakistan’s newspaper, the Dawn.

He said there are around 150 tour operators working in Gilgit-Baltistan but their mandate is to provide guides, cooks and logistics. “The law enforcement agencies get all information about the mountaineers at the time a permit is issued but don’t take any interest in providing security to them.”

The president of Pakistan Tour Operators’ Association Amjad Ayub said the foreign tourists killed had been staying at the base camp for 10 days for acclimatising.

“That place is at a walking distance of over 18 hours from the Karakoram Highway but the law-enforcement agencies did not try to arrest the attackers. A team sent there cannot do anything except collecting evidence,” he said.

Ayub said attacks on foreigners had also taken place in Indonesia and Egypt but there the attackers had been arrested.

“The attackers can be apprehended by blocking exit points towards Kel, Neelum valley and Karakoram Highway. It is not a thickly populated area like Karachi and Lahore. The attackers   can be located through an aerial search. They cannot travel during the night so they will definitely try to escape on Monday morning,” he said.

He said 250,000 people of the region depended on tourism.

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Faiz Ahmad / NationalTurk Pakistan News

 

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