Pakistani officials say a bomb that went off close to a mosque in the country's northwest has killed atleast 21 people and injured 40 others.

Friday's blast took place in the town of Parachinar close to the Afghan border.

Dr Habibullah Khan says his hospital has received eight bodies and was treating close to 50 wounded in the explosion.

Many thousands of Pakistanis have died in bombings over the last five years.
The militants routinely kill civilians opposed to them or those belonging to different Islamic denominations.