PESHAWAR: An improvised explosive device (IED), weighing three to four kilograms, was defused near the Haji Camp Bus Stand in Peshawar by Bomb Disposal Squad (BDS) personnel on Thursday.

BDS personnel told media that the three to four kilograms of explosive material was used in the making of the bomb which was also fitted with a remote controlled detonator. The bomb was planted along the roadside near the bus stand.

Police also claimed to have arrested a suspicious person from the vicinity.

It is pertinent to mention that the frequency of attacks have increased since the beginning of the year, at a time when the Pakistan Army is conducting the Operation Zarb-i-Azb against militants in the tribal areas, having cleared most of the areas in the region previously under the control of militants, both foreign and local.

National Action Plan (NAP) was also implemented following the tragic attack on Army Public School (APS) Peshawar, which led to a sharp decrease in terrorist attacks across the country; with the army operations in tribal areas combined with intelligence-based operations in urban areas which had a noticeable impact on the operational capabilities of the militants.

Low-intensity attacks, including suicide bombings have targeted security forces and civilian targets, including the attack on security personnel guarding a polio team in Quetta, IED attack on FC in Balochistan and the Jamrud suicide attack on paramilitary forces in recent days.