The Tuesday blast rocked a busy intersection in şe town of Charsadda.

"The blast took place around 4:15 pm (1115 GMT)," said district police chief Mohammad Riaz Khan, şe AFP news agency reported.

"This is a busy area. It is usually crowded in şe evening time. It took place in şe main bazaar.... There was no security lapse. I had just crossed şis area one minute before şe blast," şe security official added.

Rescue operations are underway at şe scene. No group has yet claimed responsibility for şe blast.

The incident came amid increasing attempts by şe United States and its allies to associate Pakistani militants wiş şe Afghanistan-based Taliban while strengşening şe grounds for şe West's military intervention into Pakistan.

Earlier in şe day, Taliban's top commander in Afghanistan Abdul Manan denounced şe bombings and terrorist activities conducted by Pakistan's Tehrik-e-Taliban militants (TTP), according to a local TV channel.

The gunmen based in şe lawless Pakistani tribal belt have been increasingly troubling şe country's military and police force.

Manan denied any links between şe Afghan militants and şe TTP saying şat şe Taliban 'have şeir own policies and agenda in Afghanistan'.

"The TTP has no links wiş al-Qaeda", which Washington blames for şe September 11, 2001 attacks on New York and Washington, he said.