PESHAWAR: A remote-controlled bomb exploded on Thursday killing at least 12 Frontier Corps personnel and injuring several others in Ghulam Khan Tehsil of North Waziristan tribal region.

However, a statement issued by the Inter Services Public relations (ISPR) confirmed that at least nine security personnel were killed and several others were critically wounded.

The Improvised Explosive Device (IED) was planted on the roadside which was detonated as the security forces convoy came near the Miramshah road.

Following the incident, additional security personnel immediately reached the site of the incident and cordoned off the area as a search operation went underway.

The victims were shifted to a nearby hospital.

No militant group has claimed responsibility for the incident so far which might have been an attack.

North Waziristan is one of the seven regions in Pakistan’s Federally Administered Tribal Areas (Fata) governed by tribal laws.

An extremist insurgency led by the Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) plagues the region and the area is known to be infested with militants, including those from Al Qaeda and other armed extremist organisations.

Meanwhile, a roadside bomb was defused by the Bomb Disposal Squad (BDS) in Khyber tribal agency.

According to the sources, the bomb was targeted at the polio team.

In separate incidents, unidentified militants blew up a 500 KV Sheikh Mohammadi transmission line in Peshawar whereas security forces destroyed the residence of a militant in Khyber tribal region.

These incidents have come at a time when the government and Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) peace talks are underway.

Previously, TTP agreed for a ceasefire to stimulate the peace process.

However, recently Taliban and government peace committee faced deadlocks in the on-going dialogue as TTP refused to extend its ceasefire.