Dozens of militants armed with rockets and grenades stormed the checkpost in Surang Baba Ziarat village, around 30 kilometres (20 miles) north of Wana, the main town of South Waziristan tribal district, a senior security official in Peshawar told AFP.

Six soldiers have been confirmed killed in the clashes and seven injured, the official said, adding that the toll was likely to rise. Ten militants were killed, he said.

A second security official confirmed the militant death toll but said nine security personnel were killed.

Taliban spokesman Ehsanullah Ehsan claimed in a telephone call that the militants had killed more than 12 soldiers and only one militant was killed, though the group often exaggerates military casualties.