Explosion near bus terminal in Pakistan’s Swat Valley kills 2, wounds 35

Police: Blast in Pakistani valley kills 2

PESHAWAR, Pakistan — An explosion near a bus terminal in Pakistan’s Swat Valley killed two people and wounded at least 35 people Thursday, officials said, a sign that Islamist militants remain active in the northwest region despite a massive army operation against them.

The explosion went off around noon in Mingora, the main town in the one-time tourist haven that was overrun by the Taliban back in 2007. The exact nature of the blast was unclear, and police were investigating whether a suicide bomber was involved.

The area struck was crowded, so the death toll could rise significantly, said Ibrahim Khan, a senior police official. At least two people were dead so far, while 35 were wounded, he said.

The Pakistan military launched its biggest operation against the Taliban in Swat in 2009 after a failed attempt at a peace deal that included pledges to impose Islamic law in the area. The operation forced some 2 million people to flee, but after a few months, the army said it had taken control and many of the refugees returned home.

Still, violence has occasionally flared in Swat, shaking people’s confidence.