Suspected Taliban insurgents killed a police official in the northern Afghan province of Sari Pul on Friday, Sayed Anwar Rahmati, the provincial governor said, DPA reported.
Mohammad Daud Esaqzai, the police chief of Gosfandi district was patrolling the area when suspected Taliban fighters opened fire on his vehicle, Rahmati said.
Esaqzai died and one policeman was injured in the attack, the governor said.
The Taliban have increased their presence in the relatively peaceful province in recent months.
Earlier this week, Afghan and NATO-led Swedish forces began an operation to root out militants from the region.
The Taliban have penetrated previously peaceful provinces in northern and western regions after their traditional powerbase in the south and east have become the main focus of intensified US-led operations since early last year.