Militants torch two schools in Pakistan amid extended winter holidays

PESHAWAR: Taliban militants today torched two primary schools in Pakistan's restive northwest tribal region as the country's educational institutions observed extended winter holidays after the Peshawar school carnage.

The incident came two weeks after Taliban massacred 150 people, mostly children at an army-run school in Peshawar.

"The Taliban militants set on fire two government primary schools today early morning in the Kurram agency of federally administered tribal areas," a government official said.

The pre-dawn arson attacks occurred in two villages in the Kurram tribal district where Taliban insurgent activity and violence are rampant.

Schools' records, furnitures and buildings were completed destroyed in the incident.

No group has so far claimed the responsibility. Authorities have extended winter vacations of the schools until January 12 following the Peshawar school massacre amid threats of terrorists' backlash in the wake of government's decision to execute hundreds of inmates on death row.