The attack happened at midday (0730 GMT) in the volatile district of Garda Seerai district in Paktya province on the border with Pakistan, provincial police chief Zalmai Oryakheil told AFP.

"The vehicle has been totally destroyed," Oryakheil said, blaming the Taliban.

There was no immediate claim of responsibility, but similar attacks are usually blamed on Taliban insurgents fighting to overthrow the Western-backed government of President Hamid Karzai.