Two security personnel killed in Kurram landmine explosion

Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan claims responsibility for the attack

PARACHINAR: Two security personnel were killed and two others were injured on Thursday when their vehicle struck a landmine near Central Kurram Agency, officials said.

“Two security personnel were killed and two others injured," an official said, adding the incident took place near Oarmagai, Central Kurram Agency, close to the Border of Khyber Agency.

According to security officials, the vehicle was carrying water to a nearby check-post when a landmine planted by militants exploded.

Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan claimed responsibility for the attack.

Read: Under fire: Political tehsildar survives IED attack in Khyber Agency

Kurram has been flooded with severe sectarian violence since decades. The Thall-Sadda-Parachinar Highway opened for traffic recently following a full-scale military operation in the area; however, the situation still remains tense.

In mid-October 2014, Pakistan Army launched an offensive against militants in Khyber Agency as militants fled the ongoing military offensive in North Waziristan Agency, codenamed Zarb-e-Azb, to seek shelter in the strategic Tirah Valley of Khyber Agency.

Read: Air strikes kill 20 terrorists in Khyber Agency

The valley, which shares borders with the tribal agencies of Khyber and Orakzai and also with the eastern Afghan province of Nangarhar, had become a stronghold of the banned extremist outfit Lashkar-e-Islam, led by its elusive chief Mangal Bagh Afridi. Bagh later announced the merger of his group with the outlawed Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan.