Security officials say Pakistani Taliban fighters have attacked an army camp near the Afghan border, killing at least one soldier.

The officials said on Tuesday that four militants had tried to enter the camp in Pakistan's South Waziristan tribal area around midnight, triggering a shootout with soldiers. Three militants were shot and killed and the fourth, wearing an explosive-rigged vest, blew himself up.

There were conflicting reports about the death toll. One set of security officials said one soldier had been killed, while another said two soldiers had died and nine were wounded. The officials spoke on condition of anonymity in line with military policy.

A Taliban spokesman, Asimullah Mehsud, claimed responsibility for the attack.