Twin blasts in Pakistan tribal region kills 40

27 July Times of India

At least 40 people were killed and nearly 200 injured when twin blasts rocked the headquarters of Pakistan’s northwestern Kurram tribal region.

The bombings occurred in Parachinar town, the headquarters of Kurram Agency on the border with the Tora Bora region in Afghanistan’s Khost province. “Two blasts happened in Turi Bazar of Parachinar near a school and mosque of Shia community. More than 40 people were killed and around 190 injured.

The victims were mostly members of Shia community,” said Sahahab Ali Shah, the agency’s political agent.

Both explosions took place before sunset just as people flocked to the market area to buy food for their evening meals after a day of fasting during the holy month of Ramzan. The first explosion occurred in a white car parked in Turi Bazar, Shah said, adding the second came an hour.

“We are investigating whether it was the handiwork of Pakistani Taliban or local tribes,” he said. The blasts destroyed 20 shops and nine vehicles. Locals rescued most of the injured until the security personnel cordoned off the area, TV channels reported. The local hospital authorities said 41 bodies and 73 injured were brought into the city’s hospital while dozens were taken to the garrison town of Kohat. “Many of the injured are in critical condition,” said authorities in Parachinar’s state-run hospital.

The region has a history of sectarian violence with Shia tribes dominating the Parachinar city.