A suicide bomber has blown up his vehicle near a NATO-Afghan army base in eastern Afghanistan, wounding at least 11 Afghan soldiers, as well as several international troops and civilians.

Paktiya provincial officials said the explosion in the Zurmat district was large, but did not kill anyone. The bomber detonated his explosives near the base's gate, shattering windows and damaging buildings. Insurgents fired on the base following the blast.

The Taliban claimed responsibility, saying its fighters had breached the outpost's perimeter. But NATO officials say there were no reports of insurgents on foot and that they secured the base shortly after the blast.

While the Taliban's most common fighting tactic remains planting homemade bombs, the group has recently launched several direct attacks on foreign and Afghan forces. The attacks come as Afghanistan takes on more responsibility for security as NATO countries pull out their troops and prepare for a full withdrawal of combat forces by 2014.