A roadside bomb killed five pro-government fighters and wounded two others in South Waziristan on Thursday evening, hours after a suspected United States drone struck a militant compound near Pak-Afghan border area, killing three suspected militants, officials said.

The evening incident took place in South Waziristan's Spinkai area near the Afghan border when a group of pro-government fighters was returning from a function.

Their vehicle was attacked using a remotely detonated bomb, said intelligence officials. The officials said the group was part of a volunteers' militia helping the military in operations against terrorists. The intelligence officials spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorised to speak to the media.

They said the group's leader, Wali Jan, had earlier survived a suicide attack but continued to play a role in fighting Taliban militants.

The two wounded men were moved to a military hospital, they said.

Umar Arshad, an assistant administrator in South Waziristan, confirmed the intelligence officials' account.

A faction of Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), known as the Sajna group, claimed responsibility for the bomb attack.

Pakistan's military conducted massive operation against militants in South Waziristan in 2009.