ISLAMABAD, Pakistan, May 19 (UPI) -- A suicide bomb attack in a military garrison area in the northwest Pakistan town of Mardan Sunday killed 12 people and injured several more.
The attack was targeted at a military-run bakery near the Punjab Regiment Center, Dawn newspaper reported. Those killed included four soldiers, it said. At least 23 people were injured.
The suicide bomber, believed to be a teenager, detonated himself in front of the bakery after being intercepted by security staff, police official Tahir Khan told the state-run Associated Press of Pakistan.
A group called Tehrik-i-Taliban Darra Adamkhel claimed responsibility, Dawn reported. The group wants the government to pull out its forces from the region, a spokesman said.
Provincial Chief Minister Ameer Haider Khan said the attack was aimed at sabotaging peace talks between the provincial government and tribal leaders, Dawn reported.
The northwest region of Pakistan has experienced increased violence since last year with the resurgence of the Taliban and al-Qaida insurgency.
The attack comes at a time when pro-Taliban militants led by Baitullah Mehsud and the government are coming closer to a peace agreement that includes swapping of prisoners, Dawn said. Mehsud has been accused of masterminding the December assassination of former Pakistan Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto.