Pakistani police say they have detained a nine-year-old schoolgirl allegedly strapped with a bomb and told to blow up a police checkpoint in the country's troubled northwest.

Although her intentions could not be confirmed independently, it was the first time such a young girl has been reported carrying explosives in Pakistan and could signal a disturbing new tactic for the Taliban and other militants.

Detained ... this nine-year-old Pakistani schoolgirl had a bomb strapped to her. Credit:AFP

She was arrested about 50 metres from the Islam Darra police checkpoint on the outskirts of Taimargara, the main town in the district of Lower Dir, where Pakistan in 2009 fought to put down a Taliban insurgency.

Police said the girl claimed to have been abducted several days ago in the main northwestern city of Peshawar and to have been taken to Lower Dir near the Afghan border.