Militancy: Eight killed, two injured in Khyber Agency blast

Victims were tribesmen fleeing clashes between security forces and militants.

PESHAWAR:

At least eight people, including five members of a family, were killed and two others injured when a roadside bomb targeted a vehicle carrying tribesmen in the remote Tirah valley of Khyber Agency’s Jamrud tehsil on Wednesday, locals and officials said.

Local sources said that the tribesmen were fleeing clashes between security forces and militants in the Kokikhel clan area of the valley.

However, there was no confirmation as to how many tribesmen were travelling in the vehicle.

The sources also said that a tribesman identified as Masar Khel and four of his family members were also among the dead. Those killed in the blast were civilians who did not belong to any laskhar they added.

Jamrud’s Assistant Political Agent Mohammad Jamil also confirmed the incident and casualties.

Two of the injured were shifted to Peshawar for treatment.

Tirah valley is situated 30 kilometres northeast of the Khyber Pass. Seven clans of the Afridi tribe are resident of the valley, which they use as pasture land.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 17^th, 2011.