Seven die in twin roadside blasts in Bannu

Seven die in twin roadside blasts in Bannu President Zardari, PM Shehbaz Sharif condemn back-to-back bombings Our Staff Reporter June 21, 2026 Newspaper, Regional, Peshawar, National, Top Stories Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Facebook Share on Twitter ISLAMABAD - At least seven people were martyred and three others injured in two roadside bomb blasts in Bannu district of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province on Saturday, police and rescue workers said. The first explosion on Saturday hit a vehicle, and the second was detonated as rescuers responded, police said. “A private pick-up truck carrying passengers was targeted with a remote-controlled IED,” said Yasir Afridi, a police officer in Bannu district in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province bordering Afghanistan, using a common acronym for a homemade bomb.

“The injured were being transported to hospital in a car for emergency treatment when a second IED exploded,” he said, adding that three people were wounded.There has been no claim of responsibility for the blast, but the Pakistan Taliban, known by the acronym TTP, and other armed groups operate in the area.Pakistan blamed Afghanistan for a surge in attacks near the border, although the Taliban government in Kabul has repeatedly denied Pakistani accusations that Afghan territory is used as a sanctuary for armed groups.

According to District Police Officer (DPO) Yasir Afridi, a powerful blast hit a van and a car near Marka Baira in Bannu Division, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, resulting in multiple casualties on the spot, local media channel reported. He said that five people in the van and two in the car were killed instantly due to the intensity of the explosion. Initial reports suggest that the blast was caused by a roadside improvised explosive device (IED), which detonated as the vehicles passed through the area.

The injured and deceased were immediately shifted to Khalifa Gul Nawaz Teaching Hospital, where emergency services were put on high alert for treatment and medico-legal formalities. President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Sunday condemned twin bombings that killed seven people and injured three others in the northwestern district of Bannu in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) province bordering Afghanistan.The attacks occurred in the Phang Musa Khel area within the jurisdiction of Ahmadzai police station, according to Kashif Nawaz, spokesperson for the Regional Police Office (RPO) Bannu.

A passenger pickup vehicle carrying local residents was first targeted with a remotely detonated explosive device, Nawaz told reporters.The initial blast left several people injured. As the wounded were being transported for medical treatment, a second explosion struck the vehicle carrying the victims.

“During the transfer of the injured for medical assistance, another explosion occurred targeting the motor vehicle carrying them,” Nawaz said in a statement. The two explosions killed seven people and wounded three others, police said.A heavy police contingent was deployed to the area immediately after the attack, while security personnel cordoned off the site and launched a search operation.

Police teams are collecting evidence and investigating the incident from multiple angles, Nawaz added.The attack took place in KP where security forces have intensified counterterrorism operations amid a resurgence of militant violence in recent years.President Zardari condemned the attack and expressed condolences to the families of those killed.

According to a statement issued by the President’s Office, Zardari warned against “internal and external handlers of terrorism” that provide safe havens, logistical support and financial assistance to terrorist groups. He said such groups were seeking to undermine Pakistan’s diplomatic efforts and broader regional peace initiatives.PM Sharif also condemned the bombings and directed authorities to ensure medical treatment for the injured and conduct an immediate investigation.

“Terrorism is a heinous conspiracy against humanity, peace and stability of Pakistan,” Sharif said in a statement issued by the Prime Minister’s Office.“Such cowardly acts can never shake the resolve of the nation,” he added.The prime minister vowed that those responsible would be “prosecuted” and “punished to the fullest extent of the law,” adding that “the blood of martyrs will not go in vain.”

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