KHYBER AGENCY: At least two Frontier Corps (FC) personnel were killed on Friday in a roadside improvised explosive device (IED) blast in Bara Tehsil of Khyber tribal region.

FC officials confirmed the incident and said the patrolling party was hit by a roadside IED in the Akakhel area of Bara Tehsil.

Security officers cordoned off the area and started their investigation into the incident.

Nobody claimed responsibility but militants have carried out several attacks in the area.

Khyber is part of Pakistan’s semi-autonomous tribal belt on the Afghan border. The Taliban and other al Qaeda-linked groups, who stage attacks in both countries, are known to have strongholds in the zone.

Pakistan suffers frequent bomb and suicide attacks blamed on extremist militant groups. Pakistani troops have for years been fighting homegrown armed groups in the tribal belt.