UPDATE - 10 killed in land mine blast in northwest Pakistan

UPDATES WITH TURKISH FOREIGN MINISTRY STATEMENT

By Aamir Latif

KARACHI, Pakistan (AA) - At least 10 people were killed and eight injured when a land mine blast struck a passenger van in northwestern Pakistan on Tuesday, officials and local media said.

The explosion -- the latest in a series of land mine incidents -- occurred in the Kurram Agency tribal region on the Afghan frontier, local broadcaster Dawn News reported.

The van was carrying passengers to nearby Parachinar, the only Shia Muslim-majority city in Pakistan's tribal region.

Army spokesman Maj. Gen. Asif Ghafoor said in a statement that a military helicopter was flown to the site to transport the injured to Peshawar, the capital of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa tribal region.

Following the incident, the Turkish Foreign Ministry condemned "the heinous terrorist act targeting the peace, stability and tranquility of Pakistan".

"We reiterate our strong feelings of solidarity with the friendly and brotherly government and people of Pakistan on the occasion of this tragic incident.

"We wish Allah’s mercy upon those who lost their lives as a result of this attack, convey our condolences to their families, and wish a speedy recovery to those wounded," the ministry said in a statement.

No group has so far claimed responsibility for the attack, but Taliban militants have been active in the region for more than a decade.

Kurram Agency is one of seven tribal regions in Pakistan and Parachinar has been struck by major bomb attacks targeting Shias in recent months.