Updated

A car bomb exploded in the parking lot of a military-owned bank in northwestern Pakistan on Saturday, wounding 17 people, police said.

The attack happened outside the Askari Bank in Peshawar, the capital of North West Frontier Province bordering Afghanistan.

Ijaz Khan, an area police chief, said all 17 wounded were hospitalized and in a stable condition.

The explosion damaged several vehicles and smashed office windows.

TV footage showed soldiers guarding the scene of the blast and officers inspecting several scorched cars.

Pakistan is a key ally of the United States in its campaign against terrorism. In recent years, Peshawar and many other parts of the Islamic nation have been hit by scores of bomb attacks, most blamed on outlawed extremist groups.

The latest attack came days after two suicide bombers struck targets near the capital, Islamabad, one hitting a bus carrying government workers and the other exploded in a commercial district.

No one claimed responsibility for Tuesday's attacks, but officials said they were investigating whether pro-Taliban militants were involved.