Blast kills 2 local US consulate employees in Pakistan's Peshawar

A powerful bomb explosion has claimed the lives of at least two local employees of the US consulate and several Pakistani army soldiers in the northwestern city of Peshawar.

According to Press TV, US Secretary of State John Kerry said on Tuesday that they were killed in an explosion while out on an anti-narcotics mission in the troubled region.

The top US diplomat added that several Pakistani soldiers also died in the blast involving an improvised explosive device (IED).

"Just this morning I woke to the news that we have lost two local employees in Peshawar who worked with our consulate there who were going out on an effort to eradicate narcotics fields," Kerry said at an event in Washington, DC, adding, "An IED exploded and several were lost. A few of the soldiers who were there to guard them also."

No group has claimed responsibility for the attack, but the blast took place in a region where the Pakistani military has recently stepped up its offensive against militants.

Peshawar has been the scene of numerous attacks perpetrated by members of pro-Taliban militant groups.

ME