Nine persons were killed and dozens of others wounded in a bomb explosion at a gathering of tribal elders in the north-western Pakistani tribal area of Bajaur Thursday.
Many of the injured were reported to be in a critical condition. A state of emergency was declared in Bajaur Tribal Agency.
The attack came as Pakistani warplanes continued to pound suspected Taliban hideouts in the region. Several militants were reportedly killed.
The bomb was detonated by remote control when the Salarzai tribal elders' meeting, known as jirga, was being held to draw up a plan to drive militants out of Bajaur, which is a crucial hub for insurgents. This tribal belt has access routes to Afghanistan and the rest of Pakistan.
Last month, nearly 30 persons were killed in a suicide car bomb attack on a similar gathering in the Orakzai region.
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