A damaged police escort vehicle following the bomb attack. The diplomats in the convoy were from Indonesia , Portugal, Kazakhstan , Bosnia and Herzegovina, Zimbabwe, Rwanda , Turkmenistan, Việt Nam, Iran, Russia, and Tajikistan. — AFP/VNA Photo

HÀ NỘI — Việt Nam has called for guarantees of safety and security for diplomats and foreigners' communities in Pakistan following a bomb attack suspected to have aimed at a diplomatic convoy, which also includes Vietnamese ambassador, occuring four days ago in a resort area of the country.

Vietnamese Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesperson Phạm Thu Hằng on Thursday stated that according to information from the Vietnamese Embassy in Pakistan, on September 22, a convoy consisting of police escort vehicles and vehicles carrying ambassadors from 12 countries, including the Vietnamese Ambassador to Pakistan Phạm Anh Tuấn, was en route to attend the Swat Regional Tourism Development Forum when it was struck by an improvised explosive device in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Province (Pakistan).

"The attack resulted in the death of one police officer and injuries to four other officers. The vehicles carrying the ambassadors remained safe."

Hằng underscored that Việt Nam "strongly condemns the attack and extends its deepest condolences to the families of the victims involved in this incident."

The spokesperson also expressed the hope that Pakistani authorities will "ensure the safety and security of diplomatic missions and foreign communities, including the Vietnamese living, studying, and working in the country."

According to media sources, when the incident occurred on September 22, police had arranged security and safely escorted the ambassadors back to the capital, Islamabad.

Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and President Asif Ali Zardari have condemned the attack and paid tribute to the policeman.

Authorities in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa announced the formation of a committee to investigate this attack targeting the convoy of foreign diplomats.

No groups have claimed responsibility for the attack.

Militant attacks in Pakistan have increased in recent months, including incidents in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, which borders Afghanistan.

Islamabad has indicated that groups such as the Pakistani Taliban are hiding in this region and conducting attacks against police and security forces. — VNS