The Nato helicopter crash comes exactly two days after a French fighter jet crashed in western Afghanistan, although the crew escaped without injury. – AFP Photo

KABUL: A Nato helicopter crashed in a volatile and mountainous area of eastern Afghanistan on Thursday, killing one foreign soldier, the military said.

The cause of the crash is unknown and is under investigation, the Nato-led International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) said. It did not release the nationality of the service member who was killed.

A Western military official said the helicopter came down in Paktika, which borders Pakistan’s lawless tribal belt, where Taliban and al Qaeda-linked militants have carved out strongholds outside direct government control.

The incident came two days after a French fighter jet crashed in western Afghanistan, although the crew escaped without injury.

There are around 130,000 US-led international troops in Afghanistan fighting a Taliban-led insurgency which has lasted for nearly 10 years since the 2001 invasion brought down their regime in Kabul.