Kazakhstan’s MFA confirms that the country’s ambassador to Pakistan is uninjured after assault

On Sep. 22, a landmine exploded under the police vehicle escorting ambassadors from twelve foreign countries in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province of Pakistan. Kazakhstani ambassador to Pakistan, Yerzhan Kistafin, was among those diplomats in the convoy. According to Aibek Smadiyarov, the official spokesperson of Kazakhstan’s MFA, the diplomat is safe and sound. 

«Three Pakistani policemen were injured; one died after the explosion. Representatives of the diplomatic corps reported no injuries. Our ambassador was in that convoy. He is safe now in Islamabad,» Smadiyarov said.

According to the MFA of Kazakhstan, the ambassadors headed towards the city of Swat to take part in a conference on tourism development organized by the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Islamabad.

According to local media outlets, District Police Officer (DPO) Zahidullah Khan confirmed the explosion, asserting that the group of foreign diplomats was the target of the attack.

The police confirmed that the ambassadors from Russia, Portugal, Ethiopia, Indonesia, Tajikistan, Kazakhstan, Iran and other states were in the convoy.

No organization has taken responsibility for the attack.