Brian Jeffrey
On September 26, Pham Thu Hang, the spokesperson for Vietnam’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, answered questions from VietNamNet regarding a recent assault on a diplomatic convoy in Pakistan.
The Vietnamese Embassy in Pakistan reported that on September 22, a convoy including police escort vehicles and representatives from 12 nations, with Vietnam’s Ambassador among them, was targeted by an improvised explosive device (IED) while heading to the Swat Tourism Development Forum in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa region.
This incident led to the death of one police officer and left four others injured, yet all ambassadors’ vehicles did not sustain any damage.
“Vietnam condemns this act and expresses its sincere condolences to the victims’ families,” said the spokesperson.
Furthermore, Hang urged the Pakistani government to prioritize the protection of diplomatic missions and the safety of foreign nationals, including Vietnamese individuals residing, studying, or working in Pakistan.
Local authorities revealed that the convoy was in the area due to an invitation from the local Chamber of Commerce. The IED was strategically placed on the roadside, targeting the security escort.
All diplomats were reported safe and have since returned to Islamabad.
Both President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif of Pakistan have denounced the attack.
