At least 100 Pakistani troops have been buried by an avalanche in the disputed Kashmir region, officials say.

Local TV stations say that the incident happened near the Siachen glacier in the eastern Karakoram mountain range.

The AP news agency, quoting a security official, says 130 soldiers were buried when a battalion headquarters in the Gayari district was engulfed.

The area is in the northern tip of the divided Kashmir region which is claimed by both India and Pakistan.

Pakistan army spokesman Major General Athar Abbas told the AFP news agency that at least 100 soldiers were missing, and that a rescue operation had begun.