A suicide bomber killed at least four people and wounded dozens on Tuesday in northwest Pakistan, where security forces are battling militants, officials said.

The attack targeted a paramilitary vehicle outside a government compound in the Jamrud area of the region, official Shaukatullah Afridi, who was metres away from the blast, told Reuters.

'I had just entered the office and sat on my chair when I heard a huge blast,' Afridi said.

'It seemed as if the whole building had collapsed.'

Afridi's office is on the road leading from the city of Peshawar, through the Khyber Pass, to the Afghan border.

At least 42 wounded people were taken to hospital in Peshawar, about 20 km (12 miles) to the east, hospital doctor Noor Wazir said, adding the death toll could rise.

Source: SPA