KABUL, Dec 28: A British soldier was killed and three hurt when a blast caused a vehicle crash in Afghanistan's troubled southern Helmand province, the Nato-led force and British military said on Thursday.

The death brings to 44 the number of British troops killed in Afghanistan since US-led forces toppled the Taliban regime in 2001.

The 37-nation International Security Assistance Force (Isaf) said it was unclear what caused the explosion on Wednesday.

“Yesterday, during a reconnaissance mission south of Garmser, an explosion caused an Isaf vehicle to crash, resulting in one Isaf fatality, one serious injury and two minor injuries,” the force said in a statement. “The injured Isaf personnel are currently undergoing medical treatment at an ISAF hospital.”

The force was investigating the cause of the incident, the statement said, without releasing the nationalities of the troops, in line with Isaf policy.—AFP