{"id":39322,"date":"2013-06-24T10:27:54","date_gmt":"2013-06-24T07:27:54","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.nationalturk.com\/en\/?p=39322"},"modified":"2013-06-24T10:27:54","modified_gmt":"2013-06-24T07:27:54","slug":"after-killing-of-10-tourists-china-asks-pakistan-to-ensure-safety-of-its-citizens-39322","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.nationalturk.com\/en\/after-killing-of-10-tourists-china-asks-pakistan-to-ensure-safety-of-its-citizens-39322\/","title":{"rendered":"After killing of 10 tourists, China asks Pakistan to ensure safety of its citizens"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"Soldiers
Soldiers carrying body of a tourist killed in militant attack in Pakistan.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

At least 10 foreign tourists were killed by terrorists in Pakistan\u2019s Gilgit-Batltistan region on Sunday, prompting China to ask Pakistan government to ensure safety of its citizens in the country.<\/h1>\n

Islamabad, June 24\/Nationalturk- After the killing of 10 foreign tourists in Pakistan\u2019s Gilgit-Batltistan region, Pakistan\u2019s \u2018all weather ally\u2019 China has asked the country to ensure safety of its citizens in Pakistan while United Nations Secretary General has demanded that attackers should be brought to justice.<\/p>\n

A group of heavily armed militants overran a mountaineering base camp in Pakistan\u2019s Gilgit Baltistan region. \u201cThe terrorists fired on foreign tourists\u00a0 at the foot of Nanga Parbat, the 9th tallest peak in the world, in the early hours of Sunday (June 23),\u201d a security official said.<\/p>\n

He said 11 persons including 10 foreigners were killed in the terrorist attack. \u201cAmong the victims included two from Chinese, one was Chinese-American, six were Ukrainians, one from Nepal and a Pakistani cook\u201d.<\/p>\n

Officials said the terrorists held the staff hostage and then started killing foreign tourists before making their escape.<\/p>\n

Police officials said official contingents of paramilitary Rangers and police have launched a massive manhunt to track down the attackers in the areas around Nanga Parbat.<\/p>\n

\u201cSecurity at the rivulet around Nanga Parbat has been increased to avoid a repeat of such incidents in future\u201d.<\/p>\n

Pakistan\u2019s interior Minister Chaudhary Nisar Ali told reporters that security forces using military helicopters had retrieved the Chinese national, who was later shifted to a safe place.<\/p>\n

He said the attackers were dressed as Gilgit Scouts and reached the area by abducting two guides. \u201cOne guide was killed in the shootout. One is alive. He is now detained and being questioned\u201d.<\/p>\n

The Himalayas in northern Pakistan offer some of the most spectacular climbing in the world. Its peaks are a magnet for experienced mountaineers, often from Europe.While Gilgit-Baltistan has seen deadly sectarian violence between Shia and Sunni Muslims but \u00a0foreigners were never targeted in such a remote part of the region, which officials said was inaccessible by road.<\/p>\n

Reacting to the killing of tourists by militants, China has asked Pakistani government to guarantee the safety and legitimate rights of Chinese citizens in Pakistan.<\/p>\n

China\u2019s Foreign Ministry spokesman strongly condemned a violent attack .<\/p>\n

\u201cThe Chinese Embassy in Pakistan was in close contact with Pakistan\u2019s Foreign Ministry, Interior Ministry and military to further verify information related to the incident,\u201d the spokesman said.<\/p>\n

The spokesman asked Pakistan to make all efforts to take care of the survivors, apprehend the gunmen behind the attack and guarantee safety of Chinese citizens in Pakistan.<\/p>\n

China is a major ally of Pakistan and has been supporting it on all fronts.<\/p>\n

Attack has damaged country’s image: Pakistan<\/h2>\n

Pakistan Foreign office spokesman said the incident has damaged Pakistan’s image before the world.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe Government of Pakistan expresses its deep sense of shock and grief on this brutal act of terrorism, and extends its sympathy to the families of the victims,\u201d he said adding the incident was example of barbarism and inhumanity.<\/p>\n

He said Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has ordered an immediate inquiry into the incident and arrest of the culprits.<\/p>\n

\u201cThose who have committed this heinous crime seem to be attempting to disrupt the growing relations of Pakistan with China and other friendly countries. Pakistan’s ties with China would not affected by this incident,\u201d he said adding militants wanted to damage Islamabad’s relations with China.<\/p>\n

The spokesman said Special Assistant to Prime Minister of foreign affairs spoke to the Ambassadors of China and Ukraine condoled the death of tourists hailing from China and Ukraine.<\/p>\n

Bring attackers to justice: UN chief<\/h3>\n

The United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki Moon has strongly condemned the killing of foreign tourists in Pakistan\u2019s Gilgit-Baltistan region.<\/p>\n

While expressing serious concern over the incident, \u00a0he urged Pakistan government to take immediate measures to bring the perpetrators to justice and to ensure security.<\/p>\n

Ban extended his condolences to the victims and their families.<\/p>\n

He reiterated\u00a0 support of the UN to the Pakistani government in the face of terrorism and extremism.<\/p>\n

TTP, Jundullah claim responsibility<\/h4>\n

Two militant groups Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan and Jundullah have claimed responsibility for the attack.<\/p>\n

Pakistan\u2019s deadly militant group Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) claimed responsibility for the killing of 10 foreign tourists and their guide in Gilgit-Balitistan.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe group\u2019s faction named Junud-e-Hafsa carried out the brutal attack. The killing was revenge against the US drone attacks and killing of TTP chief Waliur Rehman Mehsud,\u201d TTP spokesperson Ehsanullah Ehsan was quoted as having said by Pakistan\u2019s newspaper, Express Tribune.<\/p>\n

He said the incident will tell the international community about \u201cour feelings and sentiments against the killing of our fighters\u201d.<\/p>\n

According to media reports militant group Jundullah, which mostly operates in Iran, also claimed responsibility for the attack.<\/p>\n

Media reports had quoted the group’s spokesman, Ahmed Marwat, as saying “These foreigners are our enemies and we proudly claim responsibility for killing them and will continue such attacks in the future as well.\u201d<\/p>\n

The militant group had claimed responsibility for a series of attacks in northern Pakistan in recent years, mostly on Shias.<\/p>\n

Pakistani security officials said the attack would mostly likely be the handiwork of TTP.<\/p>\n

Tour operators criticize security agencies<\/h5>\n

The tour operators of Pakistan have criticized country\u2019s law-enforcement agencies for not doing enough to apprehend the attackers involved in killing of foreign tourists.<\/p>\n

\u201cThere were three zones in the mountains of Gilgit-Baltistan. Siachen and mountains along the border of Afghanistan are a \u2018prohibited\u2019 area. Mountains over 6,500 metre high are in \u2018restricted\u2019 area and mountaineers cannot go there without obtaining permits from the Gilgit Baltistan Council after security clearance. However, the areas lower than 6,500 metres are open and anyone is allowed to go there,\u201d owner of the Fairy Meadow Tours Ghulam Nabi told Pakistan\u2019s newspaper, the Dawn.<\/p>\n

He said there are around 150 tour operators working in Gilgit-Baltistan but their mandate is to provide guides, cooks and logistics. \u201cThe law enforcement agencies get all information about the mountaineers at the time a permit is issued but don\u2019t take any interest in providing security to them.\u201d<\/p>\n

The president of Pakistan Tour Operators\u2019 Association Amjad Ayub said the foreign tourists killed had been staying at the base camp for 10 days for acclimatising.<\/p>\n

\u201cThat place is at a walking distance of over 18 hours from the Karakoram Highway but the law-enforcement agencies did not try to arrest the attackers. A team sent there cannot do anything except collecting evidence,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

Ayub said attacks on foreigners had also taken place in Indonesia and Egypt but there the attackers had been arrested.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe attackers can be apprehended by blocking exit points towards Kel, Neelum valley and Karakoram Highway. It is not a thickly populated area like Karachi and Lahore. The attackers \u00a0 can be located through an aerial search. They cannot travel during the night so they will definitely try to escape on Monday morning,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

He said 250,000 people of the region depended on tourism.<\/p>\n

Write your comments and thoughts below<\/em><\/p>\n

Faiz Ahmad \/ NationalTurk Pakistan News<\/strong><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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