At least 11 people were killed and more than 20 wounded today when a powerful bomb exploded near an army truck in the southwestern Pakistani city of Quetta, officials said.
"We have information that 11 people, including a Pakistan army soldier, have been killed in the blast," said a military spokesman. Four soldiers were among the wounded, he said.
Information Minister Sheikh Rasheed Ahmed denounced what he called "a heinous act of terrorism". He said it was too early to allot blame for the blast, but added: "The people responsible will not go unpunished."
An official of the bomb disposal squad said the bomb, weighing at least four kilograms had been attached to a cycle. Witnesses said the blast occurred in the centre of the city, damaging the truck.
Several victims were killed on the spot, and others died in hospital, doctors said.
Pakistan, a key ally of the US-led war on terrorism, has suffered a spate of terror attacks in recent years targeting Westerners, religious minorities and government officials.
Police blame most of the attacks on Islamic extremists furious over the government's support for the United States.