Ten Pakistani soldiers were killed today in northwestern town of Kohat by a suicide bomber, according to the military. Four others were wounded.

The attack came just two days after the emergency rule was lifted by President Pervez Musharraf.

The attack occurred at an army communication centre which has been the target of Islamist militants in recent months. The centre is located in Kohat at about 30 miles from the city of Peshawar.

Nine soldiers were killed instantly and one died in the hospital. The suicide attacker blew himself up as he approached a group of soldiers who were coming from a game of football.

The area was sealed by troops.

Military spokesman, Major-General Waheed Arshad, said: "The bomber was on foot and blew himself up as he got close to the soldiers who were returning from a football ground," the Washington Post reports.

The head and legs of the bomber were found by the investigators later on.

One police official said: "He is clean-shaven and appears to be 19 or 20 years old."

No one claimed the attack. Authorities think that is the hand of militants linked to the Taliban rebels and al-Qaeda, the Guardian Unlimited informs.

In the recent months almost 400 people have died due to incidents that involved bomb attacks in Pakistan. Most of them occurred in the North West Frontier Province.

Many militants took shelter in the remote northwestern area on the Afghan border. From there they have conducted raids into Afghanistan and Pakistan.

In the meantime, militants from North Waziristan tribal region announced that they will cease fire for the next two weeks.

Gul Bahadar, a militant spokesman told Reuters: “There will be no roadside blasts, no attacks on the army from our side until December 31.”