Dr. Tetsu Nakamura, a Japanese doctor who headed the NGO Peace Medical Service in Nangarhar, died on Wednesday from gunfire wounds sustained during a morning attack in Nangarhar, confirmed Attaullah Khogyani, the provincial governor’s spokesman.

At approximately 8 am on Wednesday, Nakamura was wounded in an attack on his vehicle that killed five Afghan bodyguards and an Afghan driver.

Nakamura later died from his wounds at Jalalabad airport while awaiting an airlift to Bagram airbase, said Khogani.

According to provincial officials, the gunmen fled the scene and police are investigating. The Taliban’s spokesman Zabiullah Mujahid tweeted that the Taliban has “no connection” with the attack, and no other group has so far claimed responsibility.

Palace spokesman Sediq Sediqqi on twitter strongly condemned the attack on Afghanistan’s “greatest friend,” and said that Dr. Nakamura “dedicated all his life to change the lives of Afghans, working on water management, dams and improving traditional agriculture in Afghanistan.”

Nangarhar governor Shah Mahmood Meyakhail said “all of the people of Nangarhar” were saddened by Nakamura’s death and were thankful for the many years he spent helping the people.  

TOLOnews reporter Abdulhaq Omeri said that Dr. Nakamura worked more than a decade in the province and was recently awarded an honorary Afghan citizenship by President Ghani.