A member of an Afghan peace council was killed Wednesday morning in southern Afghanistan with his bodyguard, an official said, dpa reported.
Malim Shawali, of the quasi-governmental High Peace Council that seeks negotiation with Taliban insurgents, was killed when militants opened fire on his vehicle in Helmand province, Mohammad Dawod Farhad, another member of the council, said.
One bodyguard was killed and four were injured in the shootout in Greshk district when Shawali was en route to an event, Farhad said.
President Hamid Karzai established the High Peace Council in 2010 to start peace negotiation efforts with the Taliban militants.
The Taliban announced last week the start of a new spring offensive, vowing to target military and civilian government employees as well as NATO troops.