Officials in France say insurgents have killed a French paratrooper in eastern Afghanistan.

French President Nicolas Sarkozy's office said the soldier was killed Wednesday during an operation in the northeastern province of Kapisa.

More than 70 French troops have been killed in Afghanistan since the U.S.-led invasion in 2001.

Some 4,000 French soldiers are serving in Afghanistan as part of the NATO contingent in the war-torn country. The French forces are working to help build up and train Afghan forces.

President Sarkozy says France will withdraw its troops from Afghanistan by 2014.