Pakistani officials say a suicide bomber blew himself up after getting shot at an army checkpoint in northwestern Pakistan Sunday, killing one soldier and wounding several others.

Officials say a guard shot the suspect as he approached the checkpoint in the Chag Malai area of South Waziristan, near the Afghan border.

The Pakistani military launched operations in the tribal area more than a year ago with the goal of rooting out Pakistani Taliban militants based there. South Waziristan is a known stronghold for the group.