At least 9 individuals, together with two off-duty army personnel, had been killed when gunmen opened fireplace on a bus touring via northern Pakistan, inflicting it to crash into an oncoming truck and catch fireplace, officers stated Sunday.
The bus was attacked at round 6:30 p.m. native time (01.30 p.m. GMT) on Saturday from each side by a minimum of 5 militants.
“Following the firing, the bus lost control and collided with an oncoming truck. Subsequently, both vehicles caught fire. Among the casualties are both drivers,” stated Arif Ahmed Khan, a senior authorities official for the district.
He stated eight individuals died on the scene whereas one individual later died in hospital.
Two military troops who had been taking go away had been amongst these killed, whereas 25 others had been wounded.
The assault occurred close to Chilas in Gilgit-Baltistan, alongside the Karakoram Highway that connects the capital Islamabad to the mountainous north and China, tracing one of many many paths of the traditional Silk Road.
The bus was touring south to the garrison metropolis of Rawalpindi, which neighbors the capital.
No group has claimed duty for the assault, however the area has lengthy grappled with sectarian violence between Sunni and Shiite Muslims.
Chilas, a city throughout the widespread vacationer vacation spot of Gilgit-Baltistan, lies near the Diamer-Bhasha Dam, a Chinese-backed mega mission being constructed on the River Indus.
Source: www.dailysabah.com