At least 9 killed as blast hits house in Pakistan

PanARMENIAN.Net - At least nine people, some of them children, have been killed in a blast at a house in Pakistan's north-western Khyber tribal area, according to BBC News.

The explosion took place in the Tirah Valley, which has seen clashes between Taliban militants and the military.

Militants were among those killed but it is not clear if the house belonged to a tribal elder or a member of a militant group, the BBC said.

Officials are still investigating the nature of the blast.

One report suggested that it was set off when explosives were being prepared, but there is no official confirmation of this.

"The initial information suggests that the blast triggered by explosives killed at least 10 people including three children and wounded nine others," senior administration official Nasir Khan told AFP.

He said that the explosion took place in the reception area of the home of a tribal elder.

In recent years the region has seen fierce fighting as the army and several militant groups all vied to control the area, forcing thousands to flee.