United Nations, Feb 11 (IANS) UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon Thursday condemned a suicide bomb attack in northwest Pakistan, which killed about 30 soldiers.

"The secretary-general strongly condemns Thursday's suicide bombing that killed and injured numerous people at an army recruitment centre in Mardan, Pakistan," UN spokesman Martin Nesirky said.

"He's appalled by the reported use of a minor to commit this terrorist act," the spokesman was quoted as saying by Xinhua.

At least 27 soldiers were killed and 40 injured when a teenaged suicide bomber, disguised as a schoolboy, blew himself up at a Pakistan Army training centre. The suicide attack targeted a military parade at Punjab regiment centre in Mardan in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province.

Mardan is about 50 km northeast of Peshawar, the capital of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province.

"The secretary-general extends his condolences to the families of the victims and to the government of Pakistan," the spokesman said.

Taliban claimed responsibility for the attack and the group's spokesman Ihsanullah Ihsan warned more attacks to avenge the US drone strikes and operation by security forces in tribal regions in Pakistan, reports said.