MIRAMSHAH, Nov 18: Two soldiers were killed and seven others injured when a tank was hit by an improvised explosive device near Mirali in North Waziristan Agency on Sunday.

According to sources, troops were being deployed along the Mirali bypass road ahead of the movement of a military convoy when the IED exploded near the tank which was badly damaged and caught fire.

The tank driver suffered severe burn injuries and died on the spot. Another soldier succumbed to injuries later. The wounded were taken to the Combined Military Hospital in Bannu.

AFP news agency quoted a security official as saying that two of the vehicles in the convoy were severely damaged.

“The explosion killed at least two soldiers and injured seven others,” a security official in Miramshah said on condition of anonymity.

Helicopter gunships were seen flying over Miramshah and other areas of North Waziristan and a curfew was imposed to ensure safe passage for the convoy.

Meanwhile, a boy was killed and two others were injured when security forces fired at a vehicle near Miramshah for allegedly violating the curfew.

According to local people, the vehicle was coming to Miramshah when it came under fire near Amin check-post. The boys were taken to the agency headquarters hospital in Miramshah, where one of them, identified as Rehmat Naeem, died.

The area residents said the boys were going home after watching a cricket match.

According to officials, the political administration imposed the curfew for an indefinite period.