Twin blasts rock Pakistan’s tribal area

ISLAMABAD - Two powerful blasts rocked the Bara market area of Khyber agency in Pakistan’s northwestern tribal area, a media report said Saturday.

“It is not yet known whether it was a planted device, but local sources confirm that a convoy of security forces has been targeted in it,” Aaj TV reported.

“Initially, there are no reports of any casualty because the security forces have blocked access to the blast site and curfew has been imposed in Bara market area. Gunfire exchange was also heard after the blast for some time,” it added.

On Friday night, militants had attacked security officials manning the Kohat tunnel with powerful bombs, due to which one part of the tunnel caved in.

“At least 8 security officials were killed while more than 15 others were injured in the blast, who have been shifted to hospitals in Kohat and Peshawar,” Geo TV said.

Pakistani security forces are fighting Al-Qaeda and Taliban militants in the restive Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province and tribal areas bordering Afghanistan.

These militants keep attacking the security convoys and check posts in retaliation every now and then. The Pakistani army had claimed last month that more than 70 percent tribal area has been cleared of militants.