DERA ISMAIL KHAN, Pakistan - An explosion possibly caused by a missile strike killed five suspected foreign militants near the Afghan border on Friday, Pakistani officials said.

The blast occurred in a village in the North Waziristan region, part of Pakistan's wild tribal belt that serves as a base for Taliban militants and fugitive al-Qaida leaders.

U.S. commanders who blame those sanctuaries for rising violence in neighboring Afghanistan appear to be stepping up their efforts to hit militants inside Pakistan.

Two intelligence officials, citing local informers, told The Associated Press that drone aircraft were seen above the village of Gurwak before Friday's blast and that they believed the aircraft had fired missiles.

The officials, who asked for anonymity because they are not authorized to speak publicly, said five suspected foreign militants were killed and several other people were injured. They provided no other details of the victims' identity.

Army spokesman Maj. Gen. Athar Abbas confirmed the explosion and said the military had sent a team to investigate what had happened.