Photojournalists David Gilkey and Zabihullah Tamanna have been killed while traveling with the Afghan military in Helmand province. The pair were killed in a Taliban ambush while two other journalists were unhurt.

NPR videographer David Gilkey and Afghan photographer and translator Zabihullah Tamanna were in an Afghan army Humvee traveling near the town of Marjah in Helmand province when their vehicle was struck by an 82mm rocket during a Taliban ambush, Afghan army spokesman Shakil Ahmad Tasal said.

The road between Marjah and the provincial capital Lashkar Gah had only recently been reopened by security forces after heavy fighting in the area.

Executives at NPR, a publicly funded US broadcaster, said the 50-year-old Gilkey was killed doing what he loved.

"As a man and as a photojournalist, David brought out the humanity of all those around him. He let us see the world and each other through his eyes." said Michael Oreskes, NPR's senior vice president of news and editorial director.

Also killed was Tamanna, a 37-year-old professional photographer who often worked as an interpreter for NPR, the broadcaster said, but could offer few other details.

Former colleagues of Tamanna took to Twitter to share some of the Afghan's photojournalism for US broadcaster NBC.

An unidentified Afghan army driver also died.

The two photojournalists were traveling on assignment with NPR reporter Tom Bowman and producer Monika Evstatieva, who were reportedly not injured in the attack.

(DW)