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| Gunmen kill at least nine foreigners in Pakistan | Gunmen kill at least nine foreigners in Pakistan |
| (3 months later) | |
| Pakistan suffered its worst attack on foreign nationals in a decade on Sunday when gunmen attacked trekkers at a mountain camp, killing at least nine tourists and one local guide. | Pakistan suffered its worst attack on foreign nationals in a decade on Sunday when gunmen attacked trekkers at a mountain camp, killing at least nine tourists and one local guide. |
| Police said 15 men wearing the uniforms of a local security force attacked at 11pm, killing the tourists and the guide as they rested at the base camp of Nanga Parbat, one of the world's highest peaks. | Police said 15 men wearing the uniforms of a local security force attacked at 11pm, killing the tourists and the guide as they rested at the base camp of Nanga Parbat, one of the world's highest peaks. |
| Initital reports suggested there were nine foreign victims, from Ukraine, China and the US. But Attaur Rehman, the home secretary in Gilgit-Baltistan region, told Associated Press 10 had died – three Ukrainians, two Slovakians, two Chinese, one Lithuanian, one Nepalese and one Chinese-American. Matt Boland, the acting spokesman at the US embassy in Islamabad, confirmed an American citizen was among the dead. | Initital reports suggested there were nine foreign victims, from Ukraine, China and the US. But Attaur Rehman, the home secretary in Gilgit-Baltistan region, told Associated Press 10 had died – three Ukrainians, two Slovakians, two Chinese, one Lithuanian, one Nepalese and one Chinese-American. Matt Boland, the acting spokesman at the US embassy in Islamabad, confirmed an American citizen was among the dead. |
| The foreigners were robbed and killed as Pakistanis supporting them were held at gunpoint. One Chinese tourist managed to escape. The Pakistani Taliban claimed responsibilty for the massacre, saying it was revenge for US drone strikes. | The foreigners were robbed and killed as Pakistanis supporting them were held at gunpoint. One Chinese tourist managed to escape. The Pakistani Taliban claimed responsibilty for the massacre, saying it was revenge for US drone strikes. |
| Ehsnaullah Ehsan, spokesman for the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), told the Express Tribune that the attack was carried out by a previously unknown Taliban faction called Junud-e-Hafsa. He said it was revenge for the killing in May of Wali-ur-Rehman, the TTP's second most senior commander. | Ehsnaullah Ehsan, spokesman for the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), told the Express Tribune that the attack was carried out by a previously unknown Taliban faction called Junud-e-Hafsa. He said it was revenge for the killing in May of Wali-ur-Rehman, the TTP's second most senior commander. |
| "By killing foreigners, we wanted to give a message to the world to play their role in bringing an end to the drone attacks," Ehsan told Associated Press by phone from an undisclosed location. | "By killing foreigners, we wanted to give a message to the world to play their role in bringing an end to the drone attacks," Ehsan told Associated Press by phone from an undisclosed location. |
| Attacks on foreigners are unheard of in the beautiful mountainous region of Gilgit-Baltistan, which still attracts a trickle of tourists and climbers despite Pakistan's reputation as a hotbed of terrorist violence and instability. | Attacks on foreigners are unheard of in the beautiful mountainous region of Gilgit-Baltistan, which still attracts a trickle of tourists and climbers despite Pakistan's reputation as a hotbed of terrorist violence and instability. |
| Pakistan's foreign ministry said in a statement: "The government of Pakistan expresses its deep sense of shock and grief on this brutal act of terrorism." | Pakistan's foreign ministry said in a statement: "The government of Pakistan expresses its deep sense of shock and grief on this brutal act of terrorism." |
| In an unusual move the interior minister, Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan, immediately sacked Gilgit-Baltistan's police chief and another senior provincial official. | In an unusual move the interior minister, Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan, immediately sacked Gilgit-Baltistan's police chief and another senior provincial official. |
| Muhammad Ami Rana, director of the Pakistan Institute of Peace Studies, said he suspected Junud-e-Hafsa was simply a name given to local militants for the purpose of the operation. | Muhammad Ami Rana, director of the Pakistan Institute of Peace Studies, said he suspected Junud-e-Hafsa was simply a name given to local militants for the purpose of the operation. |
| He said the attack could suggest the TTP was forming alliances with local groups normally motivated by a sectarian agenda. | He said the attack could suggest the TTP was forming alliances with local groups normally motivated by a sectarian agenda. |
| "This appears to have been a well-planned terrorist attack and indicates militants have developed their network in the area," he said. "The TTP, al-Qaida and other foreign terrorist groups are basically tapping into the sectarian tendencies that are already there." | "This appears to have been a well-planned terrorist attack and indicates militants have developed their network in the area," he said. "The TTP, al-Qaida and other foreign terrorist groups are basically tapping into the sectarian tendencies that are already there." |
| The killing of Chinese tourists will be of particular concern to Pakistan, which cherishes its strong strategic relationship with China, seen as a vital balance to US influence in the region. | The killing of Chinese tourists will be of particular concern to Pakistan, which cherishes its strong strategic relationship with China, seen as a vital balance to US influence in the region. |
| Only last month the Chinese premier, Li Keqiang, visited Pakistan as part of a regional tour. | Only last month the Chinese premier, Li Keqiang, visited Pakistan as part of a regional tour. |
| Opinion polls show that China is the country Pakistanis regard most highly. But Pakistan is the most dangerous place in the world for Chinese citizens. | Opinion polls show that China is the country Pakistanis regard most highly. But Pakistan is the most dangerous place in the world for Chinese citizens. |
| In recent years in Gilgit-Baltistan, Sunni terrorist groups have massacred civilians from the rival Shia sect, whom they regard as heretics. | In recent years in Gilgit-Baltistan, Sunni terrorist groups have massacred civilians from the rival Shia sect, whom they regard as heretics. |
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