Blast kills 2 local US consulate employees in Pakistan's Peshawar
A powerful bomb explosion has claimed the lives of at least two local employees of the US consulate and several Pakistani army soldiers in the northwestern city of Peshawar.
US Secretary of State John Kerry said on Tuesday that they were killed in an explosion while out on an anti-narcotics mission in the troubled region.
The top US diplomat added that several Pakistani soldiers also died in the blast involving an improvised explosive device (IED).
"Just this morning I woke to the news that we have lost two local employees in Peshawar who worked with our consulate there who were going out on an effort to eradicate narcotics fields," Kerry said at an event in Washington, DC, adding, "An IED exploded and several were lost. A few of the soldiers who were there to guard them also."
No group has claimed responsibility for the attack, but the blast took place in a region where the Pakistani military has recently stepped up its offensive against militants.
Peshawar has been the scene of numerous attacks perpetrated by members of pro-Taliban militant groups.
Pakistan’s army has intensified military operations against the militants since pro-Taliban elements killed over 150 people, most of them children, in an armed assault on a school in Peshawar in December 2014.
According to Pakistani officials, more than 3,600 pro-Taliban militants have been killed since the army intensified military operations following the school massacre. The military claims it has now cleared 90 percent of the region.
At least 358 soldiers have also lost their lives during the ongoing fight against militancy.
Thousands of Pakistanis have lost their lives in bombings and other militant attacks since 2001, when Pakistan entered an alliance with the US in the so-called war on terror. Thousands more have been displaced by the wave of violence and militancy sweeping across the country.
Pakistan says Iran entitled to retaliate as Israel breaches sovereignty
Pakistan 'looking forward' to Iranian president's visit to Islamabad: Spokesperson
Pakistan strongly condemns terrorist attacks in southeastern Iran
Iranians rally nationwide in support of Operation True Promise
Raeisi: Operation True Promise ‘a necessary response’ to Israel
OIC slams US for blocking Palestine’s bid for full UN membership
US police arrest 108 pro-Palestine protesters at Columbia University
Top commander names four 'historic achievements' of Operation True Promise
VIDEO | Iranian attack and crisis of entity
UN chief: Israel’s war turned Gaza into 'humanitarian hellscape'
Meta's WhatsApp challenged for complicity in Israel’s Gaza genocide
This makes it easy to access the Press TV website
