Three Pakistani soldiers were killed and 23 injured on Sunday in a rocket attack in the north-western region along the Afghan border, as celebrations were being held to mark the 64th anniversary of independence, security officials said.
Four rockets were fired by unknown attackers on a paramilitary forces base in Miranshah, the main city in the troubled tribal district of North Waziristan, dpa reported.
"The attack by the anti-Pakistan elements martyred our three soldiers and 23 are wounded," said an official from the paramilitary Frontier Corps. "The injured have been moved to hospital."
An intelligence official who confirmed the incident said it was not clear which group had fired the rockets.
Pakistan has struck a peace deal with the local Taliban in North Waziristan, in the face of strong opposition from the United States, which considers the district a hub for international terrorism.
Islamabad says that an operation in North Waziristan is unlikely, as its troops are occupied in the region with combating attacks within Pakistan.
Under the peace deal, the Taliban in North-Waziristan spare government targets, although they continue attacks on the NATO-led forces in Afghanistan.
The area has seen intensified US drone attacks since the middle of last year, resulting in the deaths of hundreds of people.
Local intelligence officials, who are the main source of information, since the Pakistani government officially provides no information on drone raids, say most of those killed were militants.