Two Afghanistan pilots were killed after an MD 530 Afghan Air Force helicopter crashed in Pul-e-Khumri city, the centre of northern Baghlan province.

The Afghan Ministry of Defense confirmed the news in a statement on Thursday.

"The Afghan Air Force (AAF) MD-530 helicopter crashed in Kaparak locality of Pul-e-Khumri city, capital of Baghlan roughly at 4:30 p.m. Thursday. The site of the crash was secured by army personnel," the ministry said in a statement.

"Two AAF pilots lost their lives and no one was hurt on the ground," the statement noted.

The crash was caused by a technical failure, the statement said, adding that the ministry will investigate the incident.

(With inputs from agencies)

Two Afghanistan pilots were killed after an MD 530 Afghan Air Force helicopter crashed in Pul-e-Khumri city, the centre of northern Baghlan province. The Afghan Ministry of Defense confirmed the news in a statement on Thursday.

Two Afghanistan pilots were killed after an MD 530 Afghan Air Force helicopter crashed in Pul-e-Khumri city, the centre of northern Baghlan province. The Afghan Ministry of Defense confirmed the news in a statement on Thursday. "The Afghan Air Force (AAF) MD-530 helicopter crashed in Kaparak locality of Pul-e-Khumri city, capital of Baghlan roughly at 4:30 p.m. Thursday. The site of the crash was secured by army personnel," the ministry said in a statement. "Two AAF pilots lost their lives and no one was hurt on the ground," the statement noted. The crash was caused by a technical failure, the statement said, adding that the ministry will investigate the incident. (With inputs from agencies)

Two Afghan Air Force pilots killed in a military helicopter crash in Baghlan province

As many as 14 Taliban terrorists, including a divisional commander, were killed in an airstrike in Afghanistan's northern Kunduz province.

"The sortie was launched by Afghan Air Force late on Monday against a hideout belonging to Taliban militants in Qarluq, an area in Archi district of Kunduz, resulting in the death of 14 militants," provincial police said in a statement, reported Xinhua.

According to the statement, those among the killed include Ezatullah, aka Hamza, one of the local commanders of the outfit and two of his close aides.

The statement further said that the slain terrorists have been involved in a series of anti-government activities leading to the destruction of the district office building, military compound and other public facilities in the turbulent district.

Recently, Afghan security forces have tightened security operations against the Taliban terrorists who have been trying to take territory and consolidate their positions in the area ahead of winter.

However, the Taliban hasn't commented on the report so far.

As many as 14 Taliban terrorists, including a divisional commander, were killed in an airstrike in Afghanistan's northern Kunduz province. "The sortie was launched by Afghan Air Force late on Monday against a hideout belonging to Taliban militants in Qarluq, an area in Archi district of Kunduz, resulting in the death of 14 militants," provincial police said in a statement, reported Xinhua.

As many as 14 Taliban terrorists, including a divisional commander, were killed in an airstrike in Afghanistan's northern Kunduz province. "The sortie was launched by Afghan Air Force late on Monday against a hideout belonging to Taliban militants in Qarluq, an area in Archi district of Kunduz, resulting in the death of 14 militants," provincial police said in a statement, reported Xinhua. According to the statement, those among the killed include Ezatullah, aka Hamza, one of the local commanders of the outfit and two of his close aides. The statement further said that the slain terrorists have been involved in a series of anti-government activities leading to the destruction of the district office building, military compound and other public facilities in the turbulent district. Recently, Afghan security forces have tightened security operations against the Taliban terrorists who have been trying to take territory and consolidate their positions in the area ahead of winter. However, the Taliban hasn't commented on the report so far.

14 Taliban terrorists killed in Afghan airstrike

The United States Air Force Central Command (AFCENT), in its recent report, has mentioned that the Afghan Air Force has dropped over 50 laser guided bombs post the first deployment of such a bomb on March 22.

According to Afghan's news agency Khaama Press, "The recent addition of laser-guided bomb strike capability is huge for the Afghan Air Force," said US Air Force Lt. Col. Justin Williams, 438th Air Expeditionary Advisor Squadron commander.

"The bombs are built by Afghan ammunitions specialists and loaded onto Afghan planes by Afghan maintainers. This is one example of how the Afghan Air Force is assuming ownership across the board," said Lt. Col. Williams.

A-29 pilots have advocated about 30 Afghan ground missions with this technology as of May 11, the report said.

An Afghan Air Force A-29 pilot said, "The Taliban like to hide in towns and places where civilians are. The Laser Guided Bomb lets me strike those places without hurting the local people."

A laser-guided bomb (LGB) is a guided bomb that uses semi-active laser guidance to strike a designated target with greater accuracy in comparison to an unguided bomb.

First developed by the United States during the Vietnam War, laser-guided bombs proved their value in precision strikes of difficult point targets.

A-29 pilots have advocated about 30 Afghan ground missions with this technology as of May 11, the report said

The United States Air Force Central Command (AFCENT), in its recent report, has mentioned that the Afghan Air Force has dropped over 50 laser guided bombs post the first deployment of such a bomb on March 22. According to Afghan's news agency Khaama Press, "The recent addition of laser-guided bomb strike capability is huge for the Afghan Air Force," said US Air Force Lt. Col. Justin Williams, 438th Air Expeditionary Advisor Squadron commander. "The bombs are built by Afghan ammunitions specialists and loaded onto Afghan planes by Afghan maintainers. This is one example of how the Afghan Air Force is assuming ownership across the board," said Lt. Col. Williams. A-29 pilots have advocated about 30 Afghan ground missions with this technology as of May 11, the report said. An Afghan Air Force A-29 pilot said, "The Taliban like to hide in towns and places where civilians are. The Laser Guided Bomb lets me strike those places without hurting the local people." A laser-guided bomb (LGB) is a guided bomb that uses semi-active laser guidance to strike a designated target with greater accuracy in comparison to an unguided bomb. First developed by the United States during the Vietnam War, laser-guided bombs proved their value in precision strikes of difficult point targets.

Over 50 laser-guided bombs dropped by Afghan Air Force: US AFCENT

Afghan President Ashraf Ghani apologised Wednesday to the families of civilians, mainly children, killed when the country's air force sprayed an outdoor religious gathering with rockets and machine gun fire last month.

The April 2 airstrike on a ceremony attended by hundreds of men and boys in Dasht-e-Archi district -- a Taliban stronghold in the northern province of Kunduz -- left at least 36 people dead including 30 &nbspchildren, a United Nations investigation has shown.&nbsp

Seventy-one people were wounded, including 51 children, it said, adding that it had "credible information" the tolls could be even higher.

Originally the government and military had said the Afghan Air Force targeted a Taliban base where senior members of the group were planning attacks.&nbsp

The defence ministry initially denied any civilians had been hurt, then claimed the Taliban had shot them.

On Wednesday Ghani met families as well as local elders and apologised, a statement from the presidential palace said.

"(T)he difference between evildoers and a legitimate government is that a legitimate government apologises for the mistakes made," he said, according to the statement.&nbsp

He also vowed that the government would pay compensation to the families, and build a minaret in memory of the victims as well as a mosque for the region. The statement gave no further details.&nbsp

The UN investigators could not confirm if the casualties were all civilians or whether Taliban leaders had been present at the time of the air strike. They have called for further investigations. &nbsp &nbsp&nbsp

The government has sent two teams to conduct an investigation into the incident but so far neither team has "publicly reported their findings", the UN said.&nbsp

The April 2 airstrike on a ceremony attended by hundreds of men and boys in Dasht-e-Archi district -- a Taliban stronghold in the northern province of Kunduz -- left at least 36 people dead including 30 children

Afghan President Ashraf Ghani apologised Wednesday to the families of civilians, mainly children, killed when the country's air force sprayed an outdoor religious gathering with rockets and machine gun fire last month. The April 2 airstrike on a ceremony attended by hundreds of men and boys in Dasht-e-Archi district -- a Taliban stronghold in the northern province of Kunduz -- left at least 36 people dead including 30 &nbspchildren, a United Nations investigation has shown. Seventy-one people were wounded, including 51 children, it said, adding that it had "credible information" the tolls could be even higher. Originally the government and military had said the Afghan Air Force targeted a Taliban base where senior members of the group were planning attacks. The defence ministry initially denied any civilians had been hurt, then claimed the Taliban had shot them. On Wednesday Ghani met families as well as local elders and apologised, a statement from the presidential palace said. "(T)he difference between evildoers and a legitimate government is that a legitimate government apologises for the mistakes made," he said, according to the statement. He also vowed that the government would pay compensation to the families, and build a minaret in memory of the victims as well as a mosque for the region. The statement gave no further details. The UN investigators could not confirm if the casualties were all civilians or whether Taliban leaders had been present at the time of the air strike. They have called for further investigations. The government has sent two teams to conduct an investigation into the incident but so far neither team has "publicly reported their findings", the UN said.

Ashraf Ghani apologises after Afghan air strike kills 30 children

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Two Afghan Air Force pilots killed in a military helicopter crash in Baghlan province

14 Taliban terrorists killed in Afghan airstrike

Over 50 laser-guided bombs dropped by Afghan Air Force: US AFCENT

Ashraf Ghani apologises after Afghan air strike kills 30 children