Kabul - One NATO soldier was killed and two wounded in an explosion in southern Afghanistan, while several insurgents were killed in a separate attack in the eastern region, officials said Saturday.

The NATO-led International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) soldiers were killed and wounded in an "unknown explosion" in southern Helmand province on Friday, ISAF said in a statement.

The statement did not reveal the nationalities of the soldiers. Most of the forces deployed in volatile Helmand province are British.

Meanwhile, several militants were killed and seven were arrested during a joint Afghan and US-led coalition forces operation in the south-eastern province of Khost Friday, the US military said.

The operation in Sabari district of the province had targeted a militant cell of the Haqqani network, an associate group of the Taliban, which was conducting roadside attacks in the region.

"The targeted cell is known to have been involved in the March 3 vehicle-borne IED (improvised explosive device) attack against the Sabari District Center which killed two Coalition soldiers and injured dozens," the statement said. (dpa)