8 killed in shooting on bus in northern Pakistan

By Islamuddin Sajid

ISLAMABAD, Pakistan (AA) — At least eight people, including two soldiers, were killed Saturday in a shooting on a passenger bus in northern Pakistan, an official said.

"A passenger bus was targeted," Arif Ahmed Khan, deputy commissioner of the district of Diamer told reporters on the "cowardly attack" that injured 26 people on a highway near the Chilas area of Pakistan's northern Gilgit-Baltistan.

He added in the video statement that the bus veered out of control after the attack and crashed into a truck, killing its driver who was also counted among those killed.

The injured were taken to a local hospital, with some in critical condition, Khan added.

No group has yet claimed responsibility for the attack.

In 2021, at least 12 people, including nine Chinese nationals, were killed when their bus was targeted in the Kohistan district bordering Chilas.