India has strongly rebuked Pakistan Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi’s allegations linking the Indian Intelligence Agency (RAW) with the Dasu bus tragedy in Kohistan that left thirteen people, including nine Chinese nationals, dead.
Speaking on August 13th, Mr. Arindam Bagchi, the Official Spokesperson for Ministry of External Affairs said –
“We have seen reports on the absurd comments made by Foreign Minister of Pakistan on the incident in Dasu. This is yet another attempt by Pakistan to malign India in a bid to deflect international attention from its role as the epicenter of regional instability and a safe haven for proscribed terrorists.
India has been at the forefront of global efforts against terrorism in partnership with the international community, which is well aware of Pakistan’s credentials when it comes to terrorism. Such desperate attempts by Pakistan at peddling lies and propaganda will therefore find few takers.”
What do we know so far?
The ill-fated bus, on July 14th, along with two other vehicles, was carrying staff to the Dasu Hydropower project in Kohistan District of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, Pakistan.
The 4300MW project being built on the Indus river is a part of the China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), and its major works are undertaken by a Chinese company.
While traveling on the Karakoram Highway, the bus veered off and fell into a ravine killing 13 people on board and injuring several more. Nine Chinese nationals, two members of Frontier Constabulary, and two locals were amongst the dead.
A fire or an explosion was acknowledged but there were conflicting accounts on what may have caused it. Pakistan’s Foreign Office had attributed the explosion to a mechanical failure and leakage of gas.
The Chinese Premier Li Keqiang and Pakistan’s Prime Minister Imran Khan held a phone conversation in the days that followed, and the latter assured a full investigation.
Meanwhile, China’s ‘Gezhouba Group Company Limited,’ which undertook the civil works of the project in 2018, suspended the work at the site. But this was not the first time the work came to a halt at the Dam.
The work was briefly stopped in February when locals attempted to enter the site, and shots were fired by WAPDA (Water and Power Development Authority) security guards injuring five people. After negotiations with the local community, the work had resumed.
What does Pakistan say now?
Although there was no immediate mention of a car driving into the bus on the day of the tragedy, it is now alleged that a suicide bomber drove his explosives-laden car into the bus causing the explosion.
The car used for the suicide bombing is smuggled into Pakistan, said the country’s Foreign Minister.
The Swat District division of the Pakistan-based Taliban, known as Tehreek-e-Taliban (TTP), is being held responsible, he said.
Mr. Qureshi went on to allege the involvement of a ‘nexus’ of Afghanistan’s NDS (National Directorate of Security) and India’s RAW (Research and Analysis wing) behind the ‘attack. This prompted a strongly worded rebuttal from India.
Fine Scenery but curvaceous roads
In June, Seventeen people died when a passenger vehicle veered off into the Indus River in the Kohistan District. The entire area offers fine scenery but the curvaceous roads can be treacherous and do not allow the smallest of mistakes from the drivers.