A bomb blast Sunday in Pakistan's troubled northwestern Khyber tribal district killed at least eight members of a pro-government tribal militia.

Local officials said the explosion wounded at least six other people at a strategic checkpoint in Khyber, on the main land route through Pakistan into Afghanistan. They said at least one militant was also killed in the retaliatory fire.

The militia was set up to combat militants in the region, including the Taliban-affiliated group Lashkar-e-Islam. The group was founded in 2004 and currently it is headed by warlord Mangal Bagh.

Islamist militants in the region frequently attack Pakistani security forces.