The head of Afghanistan's intelligence service has been wounded in a suspected suicide bombing in Kabul, BBC News reported citing interior ministry officials.

They said that Asadullah Khalid was injured in the lower part of his body when the bomb exploded.

The explosion took place in the Taymeni area of central Kabul. No group has claimed responsibility for the attack.

An intelligence official said that the attack took place in one of many guesthouses owned by Khalid. He was known to move regularly from residence to residence in Kabul to escape assassination attempts.

An Afghan intelligence official said that Khalid is "safe" but did not elaborate on his condition.

Khalid has only been in the job as intelligence chief for a few months. He survived a previous assassination attempt when he was governor of Kandahar province in 2007.