Six killed in Pakistan twin blasts

At least six people were killed and four injured in twin blasts in Pakistan's Mohmand Agency Friday, official sources said.

The blasts targeted the peace committee volunteers in Chinari village and the death toll was expected to rise. They said that Musawar, son of peace committee elder Dara Khan, was among the dead, Dawn reported citing sources.

Mohmand is one of Pakistan's seven semi-autonomous tribal regions near the Afghan border, which are rife with militant activity. They are said to be strongholds of Taliban and Al Qaeda operatives.

The first blast, some tribesmen said, targeted the peace committee members, who were riding a motorcycle, with a remote-controlled IED. The second explosion took place when the bodies and injured from the first blast were being evacuated, they added.

Spokesman for Jamaat-ul-Ahrar - a splinter group of proscribed Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) - Ehsanullah Ehsan claimed responsibility for the blasts targeting members of government backed peace committee.

Speaking to Dawn over telephone, he said the peace committee members were targeted in Mohmand for supporting the Pakistani government.

The Jamaat-ul-Ahrar spokesman vowed to continue attacking tribal peace committees.

Pakistan's military has been fighting to eradicate militants in the tribal area.