14 killed in blast in Pakistan’s tribal belt

Peshawar: Six children were among 14 persons killed on Tuesday when a passenger van was targeted with a remote- controlled bomb by Taliban militants in Pakistan’s restive northwest tribal region. The improvised explosive device blast targeted the van in Kontara village in central Kurram Agency. Jamaatul Ahrar, a splinter group of the outlawed Tehrik- e-Taliban Pakistan, claimed responsibility for the attack. Thirteen people were injured in the explosion. The injured were shifted to a nearby hospital.Security personnel rushed to the blast site and cordoned off the entire area. A search operation was also conducted. PTI