At least seven people were killed and three others injured in two roadside bomb explosions in Pakistan's northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, police officials said on Saturday.

Twin Explosions Target Passengers in Bannu

According to local authorities, the first explosion targeted a private pickup truck carrying passengers in Bannu district.

"A private pickup truck carrying passengers was targeted with a remote-controlled improvised explosive device (IED)," said Yasir Afridi, a police official in Bannu.

Police said the victims of the initial blast were being transported to a hospital for emergency treatment when a second roadside bomb detonated, striking the vehicle carrying the wounded.

"The injured were being transported to hospital when a second IED exploded," Afridi said, adding that three people were injured in the second blast.

No Immediate Claim of Responsibility

No group immediately claimed responsibility for the attack. However, several militant organizations, including Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), maintain an active presence in parts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and have carried out similar attacks in the region.

Security officials have not yet identified the perpetrators, and investigations are ongoing.

Prime Minister Condemns the Attack

Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif condemned the bombings and expressed his condolences to the families of the victims.

In a statement, Sharif reaffirmed the government's commitment to combating militancy, saying authorities remained determined to eliminate terrorism and bring those responsible for the attack to justice.

Rising Security Concerns

The incident comes amid heightened security concerns in Pakistan, where authorities have reported an increase in militant violence, particularly in areas bordering Afghanistan.

Islamabad has repeatedly accused neighboring Afghanistan of allowing militant groups to use its territory as a safe haven to launch attacks inside Pakistan. The Taliban administration in Kabul has consistently rejected these allegations.

Tensions Between Pakistan and Afghanistan

Relations between the two countries have deteriorated in recent months, with border tensions escalating into armed confrontations. Pakistani airstrikes targeting areas inside Afghanistan have further strained ties between the neighboring countries.

Earlier this month, Pakistani strikes near the shared border reportedly killed at least 12 people in Afghanistan. Meanwhile, border crossings between the two countries have remained largely closed following renewed violence, disrupting trade and cross-border movement.

Investigation Underway

Authorities have launched an investigation into Saturday's bombings, while security forces have increased patrols and security measures in the affected area to prevent further attacks.