At least five soldiers killed in roadside explosion in northwest Pakistan

At least five soldiers were killed in an explosion in northwest Pakistan on Friday, the military said in a statement.

The improvised explosive device explosion - second in less than two weeks - struck a security vehicle in the Kurram tribal district of northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province that borders neighboring Afghanistan, the statement added.

"Sanitization of the area is being carried out to eliminate any terrorists present in the area and perpetrators of this heinous act will be brought to justice," it further said.

On June 9, seven army soldiers were killed in an IED (improvised explosive device) explosion in the Lakki Marwat district of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

There was no immediate word of responsibility for the attack.

Islamabad accuses “Afghanistan-based” militants loyal to outlawed Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) of carrying out attacks.

Kabul, for its part, denies the charge.