31 soldiers killed in suicide attack in Pakistan

Peshawar: Thirty one soldiers were killed and another 40 were injured when a suicide bomber attacked a highly guarded military training centre in a northwest Pakistan city,  reports said. Xinhua agency quoting an army statement said the attack occurred in Pakhtunkhwa, a city 60 kilometers north of Peshawar. The injured were transferred to a military hospital in Mardan and the critically injured were shifted to Peshawar.

Police sources said the bomber (a twelve-year-old boy) blew himself at the Punjab Regiment Center, around 0815 hrs, local time. The boy clad in a school uniform, blew himself with the nine kilogram explosive brought in his school bag. Banned Taliban outfit Tehrik-i-Taliban has claimed responsibility for the attack.The outfit said the attack was to protest Drone attacks of the USA on tribal areas. The Organization also warned of some more attacks.

In 2006, 35 persons died in a similar attack on the same centre.