A suicide bomber has blown himself up at an army parade ground in north-west Pakistan, killing at least 35 soldiers, officials say.
A suicide bomber has blown himself up at an army parade ground in north-west Pakistan, killing at least 35 soldiers, officials say.
About 20 people were wounded in the attack, which happened at a training ground in the town of Dargai in North West Frontier province.
About 20 people were wounded in the attack, which happened at a training ground in the town of Dargai in North West Frontier province.
Dargai is said to be a stronghold of a pro-Taleban militant group.
Dargai is said to be a stronghold of a pro-Taleban militant group.
An eyewitness, Aurangzeb, told the BBC he saw soldiers picking up scattered body parts minutes after the explosion.
An eyewitness, Aurangzeb, told the BBC he saw soldiers picking up scattered body parts minutes after the explosion.
"The victims were dying. Their shoes and caps were scattered all over the place," he said.
"The victims were dying. Their shoes and caps were scattered all over the place," he said.
It appeared that most of the men who died were military recruits who had been doing morning exercises.
It appeared that most of the men who died were military recruits who had been doing morning exercises.
"This is a terrorist act that appears to be a suicide bombing and we are investigating," military spokesman Major General Shaukat Sultan said.
"This is a terrorist act that appears to be a suicide bombing and we are investigating," military spokesman Major General Shaukat Sultan said.
There was no immediate claim of responsibility for the attack.
There was no immediate claim of responsibility for the attack.
MAJOR ATTACKS IN PAKISTAN 14 people killed in car bomb explosion in Karachi in May 200212 people killed in a car bomb explosion on Karachi in June 2002Up to 47 people killed in suicide attack inside a mosque in Quetta in July 200315 killed in suicide attack on President Pervez Musharraf's motorcade in December 2002. Gen Musharraf is unhurtAt least 44 people killed in a sectarian attack in Quetta in March 2004At least 40 people killed in a car bomb explosion at a rally in Multan in October 200443 people killed in a bomb explosion at a shrine in Balochistan in March 200557 people killed in a suicide attack on a religious congregation in Karachi in April 2006
The BBC's Barbara Plett in Islamabad says Dargai, located close to the Pakistan's semi-autonomous tribal region, is a stronghold of a pro-Taleban movement that has been banned by the government.
The BBC's Barbara Plett in Islamabad says Dargai, located close to the Pakistan's semi-autonomous tribal region, is a stronghold of a pro-Taleban movement that has been banned by the government.
Last month, the army said it carried out an air strike on a religious school run by the group near the Afghan border, killing what is claimed were 80 suspected militants.
Last month, the army said it carried out an air strike on a religious school run by the group near the Afghan border, killing what is claimed were 80 suspected militants.
Tribesmen in the area had rallied against Islamabad's alliance with the US after the air strike.
Tribesmen in the area had rallied against Islamabad's alliance with the US after the air strike.
President Pervez Musharraf said the 80 people killed in the air strike were militants, not students as protesters say.
President Pervez Musharraf said the 80 people killed in the air strike were militants, not students as protesters say.
Pakistan has deployed nearly 80,000 troops along the border to hunt militants who sought refuge after the ousting of the Taleban in Afghanistan in 2001.
Pakistan has deployed nearly 80,000 troops along the border to hunt militants who sought refuge after the ousting of the Taleban in Afghanistan in 2001.
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