New militant group attacks Pak-Afghan border

Security forces confirmed the blast and say IED was planted on the road; detonated when officials’ vehicle passed area

GHALLANAI: Four security officials on duty on the Pak-Afghan border in Baizai sub division were critically injured in an improvised explosive device (IED) blast early Thursday morning. The newly formed Jamaatul Ihrar, a splinter group of the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) claimed responsibility for the attack, with spokesperson Ehsanullah Ehsan sending a message about the attack on micro-blogging site Twitter.

Security forces confirmed the blast and said an IED was planted on the road and detonated when the officials’ vehicle passed the area. The vehicle was badly damaged in the blast. Security forces cordoned off the area and airlifted the injured to Peshawar.

Baizai sub division, in Mohmand agency, shares a border with Kunar and Ningrahar provinces in Afghanistan.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 29^th, 2014.