KABUL - Three of the most important influential figures in southern Afghanistan have been shot dead just days before parliamentary elections, leaving a power vacuum in the Taliban’s birthplace.

A bodyguard opened fire at a top-level meeting in Kandahar province on Thursday, killing Abdul Raziq, the head of police, and the spy chief in the province. The Kandahar governor, Zalmai Wesa, was also reportedly killed in the shooting.

Afghanistan’s Tolo television station reported the attack had been carried out by a bodyguard for Wesa. There were other senior Afghan officials at the site of the attack, but it was not immediately clear if any had been injured.

The top US general in Afghanistan, Scott Miller, was also at the meeting, but was not harmed, a spokesman for the US-led mission said. Two US citizens were however wounded in the shooting.

“Provincial officials including the governor, the police chief and other officials were accompanying the foreign guests to the plane when the gunshots happened,” said Said Jan Khakrezwal, the head of the provincial council, according to Reuters.

The deaths from the insider shooting risk destabilising southern Afghanistan at a time of huge political uncertainty and a worrying deterioration in the security situation.

Taliban claims responsibility

The Taliban have managed to infiltrate the most secure government meetings on multiple occasions this year, striking at the heart of its command. However, this was the first time that three top officials were killed in an attack.

"The brutal police chief of Kandahar has been killed along with several other officials," a Taliban statement said.

Raziq was criticised by human rights groups but highly respected by US officers who saw him as one of Afghanistan's most effective leaders, largely responsible for keeping Kandahar province under control.

A flamboyant commander, he had survived several attempts on his life over many years and narrowly escaped an attack last year in which five diplomats from the United Arab Emirates were killed in Kandahar.

NATO spokesperson Colonel Knut Peters said Miller, who took command of US and forces and the NATO-led Resolute Support mission in Afghanistan last month, was uninjured but he confirmed that two Americans were wounded in the crossfire.

Islamabad stands with Kabul

Pakistan on Thursday strongly condemned the terrorist attack resulting in the sad demise of senior Kandhar security officials and causing injuries to many others.

"Pakistan stands with the Afghan government and people and reiterates its support for the Afghan democratic process," ministry of foreign affairs said in a statement.

"We hope that the Parliamentary elections due to take place the day after tomorrow would be held peacefully. Strengthening of democracy is key to long-term peace and security in Afghanistan.

The spokesman said we also express our heartfelt sympathies and condolences to the families and friends of those who have lost their lives and pray for the swift recovery of the injured.