NATO officials in Afghanistan say insurgents have killed a coalition soldier in the southern part of the country.

A statement says the soldier was killed Sunday in Helmand province. NATO did not provide details about the clash or give the soldier's nationality.

The statement said that in another incident, a soldier and six Afghan troops were wounded when mortars hit their base in neighboring Kandahar province early Sunday.

On Saturday, the head of the U.S. Central Command, General John Abizaid, said Taleban insurgents are still using neighboring Pakistan as a base for infiltration. But he completely rejected any suggestion that Islamabad is conspiring with the rebels.

General Abizaid made the remarks during a brief visit to the main U.S. military base at Bagram north of the Afghan capital, Kabul, to asses operations.