SIX people have been arrested in connection with an attack on a passenger bus in the Chilas area of Gilgit-Baltistan’s Diamer district. At least nine people, including two soldiers, lost their lives, and 21 passengers received injuries when unknown attackers opened fire at the Rawalpindi-bound bus from nearby hills, causing the vehicle to collide with a goods truck.
Gilgit-Baltistan is the focus of the connectivity, infrastructure, water reservoirs and energy projects, which are so vital for progress and development of the entire country and therefore, they remain targets of hostile activities by anti-Pakistan elements. There have also been attacks on Chinese engineers and technicians working on development projects and one such tragedy led to a virtual halt in construction activities on Dasu hydropower project for months due to security concerns. The latest incident sparked protests in different parts of GB and transporters have suspended their bus services from Rawalpindi to ten districts of GB, saying the service will not resume until the security is improved. The Pakistan Association of Tour Operators also condemned the attack and said the act of violence not only resulted in the loss of innocent lives but had a profound impact on the tourism industry as well. GB Chief Minister Gulbar Khan has announced that passenger vehicles would travel through Diamer during the daytime. The convoys of five to 10 vehicles will be escorted by security personnel. This can be a stopgap arrangement but not a permanent solution to the problem as convoy movement would slow down mobility and will adversely impact trade and economic activities in the area. The increase in terrorist attacks in GB should be a source of concern for our intelligence and law enforcing agencies. It is also the responsibility of the local population to extend fullest possible cooperation to police and security agencies in preventing such crimes and holding the perpetrators accountable. Foreign hand is not ruled out in the conspiracy to destabilize the region but it cannot happen without local collaboration which needs to be identified and dealt with by the iron hand.
