Bomb kills nine soldiers in northwest Pakistan: army

Pakistan's restive northwest, which borders Afghanistan, has had a rise in attacks over the last year since talks between Islamist militants and the government broke down.

The military said security forces had cordoned off the area. 

No group immediately claimed responsibility for the attack.

A suicide bombing at a political gathering in the northwest last month killed more than 60 people. 

That attack was claimed by the Islamic State militant group.