At least seven people were killed and three others were injured in twin roadside explosions in Pakistan’s Bannu district of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province on Saturday. The attacks took place within a short span of time and targeted civilians travelling in the area.

According to police, the first explosion struck a private pickup truck carrying passengers. Yasir Afridi, a police officer in Bannu district, said, "A private pickup truck carrying passengers was targeted with a remote-controlled IED." An improvised explosive device (IED) is a homemade bomb commonly used in militant attacks.

After the first blast, the injured victims were being rushed to a hospital for emergency treatment. However, a second explosion occurred during the rescue effort. Afridi said, "... the injured were being transported to hospital in a car for emergency treatment when a second IED exploded." The second blast added to the casualties and left three people wounded.

No group immediately claimed responsibility for the attacks. However, security officials noted that the Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and several other militant organisations are active in the region. The area has witnessed frequent militant violence in recent years, making it one of Pakistan’s most sensitive security zones.

Pakistan Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif strongly condemned the attack and expressed grief over the loss of lives. He said the government "remained committed to eliminating terrorism" and "bringing those responsible to justice".

The incident comes at a time of growing tensions between Pakistan and neighbouring Afghanistan. Pakistan has repeatedly blamed Afghanistan for an increase in militant attacks within its territory. Pakistani authorities claim that militants use Afghan soil as a safe haven to plan and launch attacks.

The Taliban-led government in Kabul has consistently rejected these allegations and denied that Afghan territory is being used by militant groups against Pakistan.

Relations between the two countries have remained strained and have recently led to armed confrontations. In recent months, clashes have escalated, including Pakistani airstrikes on Afghan cities. Pakistani strikes near the shared border reportedly killed at least 12 people in Afghanistan earlier this month.

The ongoing tensions have also affected trade between the two countries. The border has remained largely closed since violence flared up in October, disrupting cross-border movement and freezing bilateral trade.