ISLAMABAD – At least 13 people, including 9 Chinese citizens, died and many were injured in the explosion of the bus on which they were traveling near the Dasu hydroelectric power plant in Khyber Pakhtunkwha, a northern province of Pakistan on the border with Afghanistan.
This was reported by the Pakistani newspaper website Dawn, according to which the causes of the explosion are still unclear. As local sources stated, over 30 people were traveling on the bus at the time of the explosion, including Pakistani workers and personnel from the Border Corps.
China expressed “shock and condemnation of the attack”, urging Islamabad to “severely punish” the perpetrators and to “strongly protect” Chinese citizens and interests. The spokesman for the Esther ministryi, Zhao Lijian, commenting on the story, he expressed “sincere condolences to the victims and their families”. The Chinese embassy in Islamabad urged Beijing companies “to strengthen their security procedures”.
The advance of the Taliban in Afghanistan
Taliban fighters in Afghanistan said today that they have taken control of a major border crossing with Pakistan in the course of the advance parallel to the withdrawal of US-led international forces. “The mujahideen have captured an important border town called Wesh,” said the spokesman for the Taliban. Zabihullah Mujahid referring to the border post.
The post is the second most important landlocked border crossing between Afghanistan and Pakistan, connecting the southern Afghan city of Kandahar to Pakistani ports. Figures from the Afghan government show that around 900 trucks cross the border there every day. The Taliban in recent days have seized four northern and western border crossings while capturing territory from government forces.
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