Three soldiers killed, 11 hurt in suicide attack in PoK

The bomber targeted the barracks close to an army hospital at Tararkhal, over 90 km from PoK capital Muzaffarabad, police said.

Part of the barracks was destroyed by the blast.There were about 35 soldiers in the facility at the time of the attack this morning. Three soldiers were killed instantly and 11 more injured.

The wounded were taken to the army hospital.Police said the bomber detonated his explosives after guards stopped him at the gate of the barracks.

Over 600 people have died in bombings and suicide attacks across Pakistan since October, when the army launched a major operation against the Taliban in their stronghold of South Waziristan.

In recent weeks, the violence has spread to PoK, which was largely unaffected by militant attacks over the years.

Last month, 10 people were killed when a suicide bomber struck a Shia procession in Muzaffarabad.Two soldiers were killed when a bomber carried out the first suicide attack in PoK in June last year.

Reports have said that several banned groups, including the Jaish-e-Mohammed and Lashker-e-Taiba, have stepped up their activities in PoK over the past year.