Hidden bombs: Tribesman loses his leg in landmine blast in Kurram

In another incident, a tractor driver sustained injuries after driving over buried explosives.

PARACHINAR: Two tribesmen were severely injured when landmines detonated in separate incidents in Kurram Agency on Wednesday.

A Parachinar political administration official explained the first incident occurred near the Pakistan-Afghan border in Pewar at 8am. Tribesman Kamil Syed was reportedly en route to his fields from his house when he stepped on a landmine planted by unidentified militants, said the official.

After the sound of the blast, locals rushed to the site and shifted Syed, who was badly injured, to the Agency Headquarters (AHQ) Hospital. Syed’s leg had to be amputated.

The second incident occurred in Boshehra where a tractor ran over a landmine planted by the roadside, stated the Parachinar administration official. Zarif Khan was driving the vehicle. Khan suffered minor injuries and was discharged from AHQ Hospital after he was administered first aid.

On October 5, three tribesmen were brutally injured when they stepped on landmines in Upper Kurram Agency. A number of locals have been hurt or killed in similar incidents.

Some of the landmines in Kurram are remnants of the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan; more have been planted by current insurgents in the region to target security forces and officials. It is said some security forces have also planted mines to secure their check posts from militant.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 10^th, 2013.