PARACHINAR: A homemade bomb exploded next to a Pakistani military vehicle in the Alizai area of the northwestern Kurram tribal region, near the Afghanistan border, killing one soldier, security officials said.

Government official, Jamil Khan says militants opened fire on the troops after the blast Sunday in the Kurram tribal area. Twelve soldiers were wounded.

Khan said the convoy had been dispatched to provide reinforcements to the Sheendand area of Kurram, where militants had set up a hide-out. It is unclear whether any militants were wounded or killed in the fighting.

The Pakistani Taliban have killed thousands of troops and other security officials throughout the country in the past few years.