A powerful explosion rocked the Bajaur tribal district in Pakistan’s Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province on Tuesday, killing four government officials, including the driver of the Assistant Commissioner of Nawagai tehsil, Faisal Sultan. The blast occurred near Mela Ground in Khar Tehsil, a region that borders Afghanistan and has witnessed militant activity in the past.

According to local reports, the vehicle was targeted using an improvised explosive device (IED) planted by suspected militants. The Assistant Commissioner narrowly escaped with injuries, while those accompanying him - three government staffers and the driver - were killed on the spot.

Security forces rushed to the site and launched a cordon-and-search operation. While no group has claimed responsibility yet, officials suspect the involvement of TTP-linked elements or cross-border militants.

The attack raises fresh concerns over the deteriorating security situation in Pakistan’s tribal regions, especially along the Afghan border. It also highlights the growing threat faced by civil administration officials in volatile zones, as Pakistan continues to battle insurgency and extremism in its frontier areas.