In a sudden surge in violence against the minority Shia community, 25 people were killed today when two blasts ripped through a town in Pakistan's tribal belt hours after two persons died when a truck hit a landmine.
About 100 people were injured in the twin blasts that targeted Shia mosques in Parachinar, the main town of Kurram tribal region.
The first explosion went off in a busy market and it was was followed by another on School Road in Parachinar. Both blasts occurred near Shia mosques, witnesses told the media.
At least 25 people were killed by the blasts, officials were quoted as saying by TV news channels. About 100 injured people were taken to nearby hospitals and officials said several of them were in a serious condition.
A bomb-rigged motorcycle was used in the first attack. The nature of the second blast could not immediately be ascertained.
Earlier in the day, two members of the Shia community were killed and six more injured when a pick-up truck hit a landmine near Khar Pata area of Kurram Agency.
Nobody immediately claimed responsibility for the attacks but the Taliban are active in the region and target civilians and security forces.
Hundreds of people have died over the past few years in clashes between rival Shia and Sunni tribesmen in Kurram Agency, located near the Afghan border.
Unlike other semi-autonomous tribal regions in northwest Pakistan, Shias are in a majority in Kurram Agency. Sporadic incidents of violence have rocked the region despite a fragile accord between the rival tribesmen.
