Terror strikes cricket ground in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa; Bomb blast kills one, leaves several injured

A deadly explosion hit a cricket match at Kausar Cricket Ground in Pakistan's Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province on Saturday, killing one person and injuring several others. Police confirmed it was a targeted attack using an improvised explosive device in Bajaur district's Khar tehsil, with militant groups suspected amid ongoing security operations.Bajaur District Police Officer Waqas Rafique stated: "It appears to be a targeted attack."While no group has claimed responsibility for the attack, police officials attributed it to terrorists, citing the recently launched Operation Sarbakaf by security forces last month.The incident follows two separate violent encounters in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province the previous Saturday.Three militants were killed during a police encounter in Kohat district's Lachi police station jurisdiction.In a separate incident on the same day, unidentified assailants ambushed a police van near the Darmalak police checkpost in Lachi tehsil, resulting in the death of a police constable.The attacks highlight ongoing security challenges in Pakistan's northwestern region, where security forces continue to combat militant activities.