Afghan officials say the country's intelligence chief is in surgery after being wounded in an assassination attempt in Kabul.

The National Security Directorate said Asadullah Khalid was wounded in what it called a “terrorist attack” Thursday when an explosion hit a guest house in the capital. Khalid reportedly suffered injuries to the lower part of his body, but medical officials say they are not life-threatening.

President Hamid Karzai visited Khalid in the hospital and said he may be sent abroad for treatment.

The Taliban claimed responsibility for the attack, saying it was a suicide bombing and that a number of other intelligence officials also were wounded. Afghan officials have not commented on those claims.

Khalid, who is close to the Karzai family, took over the intelligence agency in September after the president reshuffled his Cabinet. Since taking over, Khalid has led an aggressive campaign against the Taliban.

Prior to becoming intelligence chief, Khalid served as Afghanistan's minister of tribal and border affairs and as a provincial governor. Human rights groups have accused Khalid of involvement in acts of torture and other abuses while he was governor of Kandahar province. He has denied any wrongdoing.