Seven suspects were arrested following a search operation after a blast at a market in Peshawar's Parachinar area left at least 25 people dead and 87 others wounded a day earlier.

Assistant Political Agent Shahid Ali Khan on Sunday confirmed that the political administration of the agency had arrested seven suspects.

Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Qamar Javed Bajwa, in a meeting with the people of the area, lauded the support of the local citizens in combating terrorism and acknowledged their sacrifices, said a statement released by the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR).

He praised the citizens of Parachinar for maintaining tribal and sectarian harmony and said it is a “source of national harmony and integration".

General Bajwa, on the request of the people, also announced the setting up of an Army Public School in the area to impart quality education, added the ISPR statement.

On the occasion tribal elders from the area also thanked the army chief for announcing the setting up of a school and sharing their sorrow.

The ISPR statement also said that tribal elders pledged their support for enduring peace and stability in the area.

General Bajwa also visited the Agency Headquarter Hospital to inquire after the health of those who were injured in the Parachinar blast.

After the attack, the critically wounded were shifted by two military helicopters to Peshawar and admitted to the Combined Military Hospital there. Gen Bajwa issued directives for quick shifting of the victims and provision of best medical care to them.

The COAS also visited the site of the blast. During his visit, strict security measures were taken across Kurram Agency.

Parachinar is the administrative headquarters of the agency near the Afghan border.

It is small garrison town developed by the British Army in the foothill of Spin Ghar (White Mountain) in mid-1895. The town's total population is about 40,000 comprising people of different tribes, races and faiths.

In a text message sent to journalists, the proscribed Lashkar-i-Jhangvi al-Alami claimed that it, along with Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) splinter Shehryar Mehsud group carried out the attack. However, the Shehryar Mehsud group did not independently claim the bombing.

Kurram is one of the most sensitive tribal areas as it borders three Afghan provinces and at one point was one of the key routes for militant movement across the border. It has witnessed scores of attacks and kidnappings for ransom incidents in the past several years.

The agency is adjacent to North Waziristan where Operation Zarb-i-Azb is in progress against the Tehreek-i-Taliban and other insurgent groups. The military had also launched an offensive against militants in 2011.