The casualties occurred in North Waziristan tribal district's Mangreti village on the border with Afghanistan late Friday as Afghan and coalition forces conducted an operation against insurgents, they said.

"Afghan and coalition forces were conducting an operation against militants and a few rockets came in our area. One of the rockets hit a house in which nine people were killed," Pakistan military spokesman Major General Waheed Arshad told AFP.

Local residents said the dead included a child, a woman and seven men, all from the same family.

"We have protested the incident and asked explanation from Afghan and coalition forces," Arshad said.

Meanwhile, four paramilitary soldiers were killed Saturday in a restive Pakistani tribal area bordering Afghanistan when their vehicle hit an explosive device, officials said.

The soldiers were clearing the area in Karam Kot village, in North Waziristan, early Saturday as a military convoy was due to pass, a security official told AFP.