KHAR: A roadside bomb killed one paramilitary trooper and injured four others Sunday in Pakistan's troubled northwest near the Afghan border, security officials said.

The bomb went off in the Kitkoot area 16 miles (26 km) northwest of Khar, which is the main town in the Bajaur tribal agency.

The officials said the vehicle used by the paramilitary troops was on a routine patrol when hit by the blast.

Bajaur is one of seven semi-autonomous tribal regions plagued by insurgency.

Roadside bombs are often used by the Pakistani Taliban, which rose up against the state in 2007. More than 6,800 people have been killed in bomb and gun attacks since then, according to an AFP tally.

Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif's government began negotiations with the Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) through intermediaries in February in hopes of ending the revolt. But insurgent violence continued despite a self-proclaimed Taliban ceasefire.

Last month the Taliban said they were ending the ceasefire, complaining of little progress in the negotiations.

An explosion near Bacha Khan Chowk in Peshawar had killed at least five persons and wounded 14 others earlier in the day.