NATO soldier killed in southern Afghan blast

KABUL - One NATO soldier was killed in an explosion in restive southern Afghanistan on Wednesday morning, the military alliance confirmed in a statement issued here.

"An International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) service member died following an improvised explosive device (IED) attack in southern Afghanistan today," the NATO-led ISAF said in the statement.

The brief statement did not reveal the nationality of the victim under ISAF policy.

Troops mainly from the US, Britain and Australia have been stationed in the southern region within the framework of ISAF to curb Taliban-linked insurgency there.

The casualty brings to 17 the number of foreign soldier who have been killed so far this month and to 237 since the beginning this year.

Currently over 130,000 ISAF troops with majority of them Americans have been serving in Afghanistan.

According to US President Barack Obama's withdrawal plan, 10,000 US troops already pulled out from Afghanistan last year and another 23,000 will return home by September this year. The ultimate goal is to transfer lead security responsibility to the Afghan forces by 2014.