Pakistan: 14 killed as landmine blast hits van in Kurram

At least 14 people were killed when a passenger vehicle hit an anti-tank mine in Gudar area of Central Kurram Agency early Tuesday.

The blast tore through the heavily-loaded pickup truck in the Godar area of Kurram tribal district early in the morning, reports the Express Tribune.

"An anti-tank mine was buried on the roadside and hit a pick-up van. It was a rutted path in an area that is at a distance," said a political administration official.

Nine others, including four Khasadar officials, were critically injured in the explosion.

IS Khorasan and TTP-JUA have both claimed responsibility for the attack.

The Kurram tribal district has also been a stronghold of the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) as well as its factions.

 

Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif and Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan condemned the attack.