A militants, riding an explosive-laden car, blew it up in Paktika province east of Afghanistan Saturday morning, killing one foreign soldier and injuring another Afghan trooper, spokesman of provincial administration Hamidullah Zhawak said.

"Taliban insurgents carried out this attack next to headquarters of Zirok district at 6:30 a.m. local time (0200 GMT) killing one soldier of the US-led forces and injuring another Afghan trooper," Zhawak told Xinhua.

The incident triggered heavy fighting in the area, during which 32 suspected insurgents were killed.

Following the blast, a group of Taliban militants, the spokesman added, raided the district headquarters when National Security Forces came for support and encountered the rebels.

Moreover, Zhawak said Gunships of US-led forces, which were also called in, pounded militants killing 32 on the spot.

"Eight more insurgents have been detained," he stressed.

Conflicts and violence have left over 160 foreign troops dead in Afghanistan since the beginning of 2009 as the new deployed US Marine launched a massive operation with Afghan troops to root out Taliban militants in Helmand province since July 2.

(Xinhua News Agency July 4, 2009)