Landmine blast kills 2 in northwest Pakistan

Peshawar: Two members of the minority Shia community were killed and six more injured when a pick-up truck hit a landmine in the restive Kurram tribal region of northwest Pakistan on Friday, officials said. The truck was on its way to Parachinar, the main town of the semi-autonomous Kurram Agency, when it hit the landmine near Khar Pata area, officials of the political administration said.

Two persons were killed instantly. The injured were taken to a hospital in Parachinar. All the dead and injured belonged to the Shia sect. Hundreds of people have died over the past few years in clashes between rival Shia and Sunni tribesmen in Kurram Agency, which is located near the Afghan border. Unlike the other semi-autonomous tribal regions in northwest Pakistan, Shias are in a majority in Kurram Agency. Sporadic incidents of violence have rocked the region despite a fragile accord between the rival tribesmen. PTI