The soldier who died of a gunshot wound in Kabul on Wednesday has been identified by the Canadian Forces as the highest-ranking officer who died in Afghanistan.

Maj. Raymond Ruckpaul was found dead in his room at about 7:30 a.m. local time at the headquarters of the International Security Assistance Force in the Afghan capital.

Ruckpaul, 41, was an armoured officer based at the NATO Allied Land Component Command Headquarters in Heidelberg, Germany.

No hometown or other details have been released.

The matter is under investigation by ISAF authorities and Canadian military officials.

ISAF has said there was no sign of forced entry or enemy action. However, Capt. Sylvain Chalifour has said neither murder, suicide nor accidental discharge of the firearm have been ruled out as possible reasons for the death.

Ruckpaul was the 70th Canadian soldier to die in Afghanistan since 2002.