The woman, Sidney Misal, 49, was working for a nongovernmental organization, the Asian Rural Life Development Foundation, and had been living in southern Kandahar since 2002, said the governor, Asadullah Khalid.
Kandahar, the former spiritual capital of the Taliban government, is one of the most dangerous parts of Afghanistan. The Taliban have a broad presence in much of rural southern Afghanistan and have mounted suicide attacks and shootings in the city. Only a small number of foreigners live there, and they move around with extreme caution.
According to a fellow worker at the foundation, Abdul Hamid, Ms. Misal speaks the local language, Pashto, fluently, and had been in Kandahar for six years.
Her organization works closely with Kandahar University, supporting English and computer classes for students and the agriculture faculty. It also runs an agricultural farm and nursery.
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/01/27/world/asia/27afghan.html?em&ex=1201496400&en=fac8086b3126626c&ei=5087%0A