The governor's office says in a statement issued Wednesday that a police truck struck the bomb on Tuesday while driving in Kandahar province's Zhari district.

Provincial government spokesman Zalmai Ayubi says the police were escorting tribal elder Abdul Wali Khan back to his home from nearby Kandahar city.

Ayubi says the bomb appeared to be remotely detonated, and that the police assume Khan was the target. Khan was also on the Zhari district development council.