Initial investigation confirmed traces of explosives in Dasu incident
Information Minister Chaudhry Fawad said that ‘confirmed traces’ of explosives have been found during the initial investigation of the Dasu incident.
Terrorism could not be ruled out from the Dasu bus tragedy in Kohistan, he said.
The minister added that Prime Minister Imran Khan was personally supervising all developments and the government is in close coordination with the Chinese embassy and “committed to fighting the menace of terrorism together.”
At least 13 people, including nine Chinese nationals, died when a coach carrying them to an under-construction tunnel site of the 4,300-megawatt Dasu hydropower project fell into a ravine in the Upper Kohistan area after an explosion.
Pakistan earlier ruled said that the accident was not a consequence of a terrorist attack.
During a meeting of the Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi and Pakistani Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi in Dushanbe, Wang said that China “is shocked by the serious Chinese casualties in Pakistan today, hoping that the Pakistani side could quickly find out its cause”, conduct rescue and treatment work at all costs, and prevent similar incidents from happening again. “If it is a terrorist attack, the criminals must be immediately arrested and severely punished” Wang Yi said.
Chinese foreign minister also stressed that “Lessons should be learned from the incident, and the security measures for China-Pakistan cooperation projects should be further strengthened to ensure the safe and smooth operation of all projects.”
Qureshi, on behalf of the government and the people of Pakistan, expressed sincere condolences to the Chinese side over the heavy Chinese casualties. “Pakistan will spare no effort to rescue and treat the wounded, thoroughly investigate the truth of the incident, lose no time in sharing the progress of the investigation with China, and do its utmost to ensure the safety of Chinese personnel in Pakistan,” he said.