At least nine people have died after a suicide bomber attacked a police checkpoint in northwest Pakistan on Tuesday.
Police authorities also confirmed that 34 people suffered injuries during the explosion.
The attacker reportedly drove a three-wheel vehicle packed with explosives before detonating it near security officials stationed at the checkpoint.
Police officers targeted in explosion
Senior police official Muhammad Sajjad Khan said the suspect approached two traffic police officers moments before the blast occurred.
According to him, the explosion happened suddenly and caused heavy destruction around the checkpoint area.
Emergency responders rushed to the scene shortly after the attack. Rescue workers evacuated victims and transported the injured to nearby hospitals for treatment.
Security agencies immediately launched investigations into the bombing.
Fresh attack deepens security concerns
The latest incident came only days after another deadly attack in Bannu, a troubled district in northwest Pakistan.
During that assault, a car bomb exploded near a security checkpoint before gunmen opened fire on police officers.
At least 15 people lost their lives in the earlier attack.
The recent wave of violence has raised fresh concerns over worsening insecurity in Pakistan’s border regions.
Pakistan accuses Afghanistan-based militants
Pakistan’s foreign ministry summoned Afghanistan’s top diplomat on Monday following the Bannu attack.
Authorities claimed investigations linked the assault to militants operating from Afghanistan.
Officials accused armed groups based across the border of planning attacks inside Pakistan.
However, Afghanistan’s Taliban-led government rejected the allegations.
Taliban deny involvement
The Taliban government has repeatedly denied providing shelter for militant groups targeting neighbouring countries.
Afghan officials insist their territory is not used for cross-border attacks.
Despite those assurances, tensions between both countries have continued to rise in recent months.
Border clashes increase regional tension
Relations between Pakistan and Afghanistan have remained strained due to recurring security incidents and border disputes.
Both countries have witnessed armed confrontations along the border in recent months.
Pakistan also carried out airstrikes on locations inside Afghanistan earlier this year, further increasing tensions.
Security analysts warn that continued violence could worsen instability across the region if diplomatic relations fail to improve.
Authorities in Pakistan have intensified security operations as fears of additional attacks continue to grow.
