ISLAMABAD, 14 September 2007 — At least 15 soldiers were killed and several injured yesterday in a suicide attack on a high-security base used by a Pakistani counterterrorism quick-reaction force.

The Tarbela facility, about 100 km south of the capital Islamabad, is the headquarters of a counterterrorism quick reaction force. The victims belonged to the army’s Zarar commando group, which participated in operations against militants in Islamabad’s Red Mosque.

Maj. Gen. Waheed Arshad, the army spokesman, said that 15 soldiers were killed and 11 wounded, some seriously, but he would not confirm what caused the blast.

But two security officials, who sought anonymity because of the sensitive nature of their job, said the bomber rammed an explosives-laden vehicle into the canteen where dozens of soldiers were eating their evening meal.

Earlier this month, 25 people, most of them staff members of an army intelligence agency, were killed in twin suicide attacks in the garrison town of Rawalpindi, adjoining Islamabad.

Officials said evidence pointed to the involvement of Al-Qaeda-linked militants.

Pakistan is under growing US pressure to crackdown on Taleban and Al-Qaeda in its border regions. It reported Wednesday that it had killed about 40 militants in the North Waziristan region.

In yesterday’s fighting near Razmak, a town in South Waziristan, army forces repelled repeated militant attacks, Arshad said. Army helicopters and ground fire destroyed four rebel positions, he said.

Arshad said their initial estimate was that at least 30 militants were killed in yesterday’s fighting, but added later that tribesmen informed officials that up to 50 rebels had died in the military attack. He said two soldiers were killed and eight were wounded.

Fighting between militants and security forces has been raging across northwest Pakistan since the army assaulted the Red Mosque in Islamabad in July. Most of the combat has taken place in the rugged mountains along the Afghan border where the US fears Al-Qaeda is regrouping. US officials have welcomed signs that Musharraf, who is currently seeking a new five-year term as president, is taking a tougher line against militants.

— Additional input from agencies