An airstrike hit a mosque in Afghanistan and has taken lives on 11 children and a prayer leader, local authorities reported on Thursday.

The incident happened in a village in the&nbsp;northeastern province of Takhar on Wednesday came during the ongoing clashes between the Afghan security forces and Taliban fighters, the&nbsp;provincial police spokesman Khalil Aseer reported.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/afghanistans-ata-mohammad-noor-meets-eam-foreign-secretary-in-delhi-briefs-about-the-afghan-peace-process-336971">Also read|&nbsp;Afghanistan's Ata Mohammad Noor meets EAM, Foreign Secretary in Delhi; briefs about the Afghan peace process</a>

"The air strike was carried out when the victims were busy studying the Holy Koran," Aseer said, adding a prayer leader was killed alongside the 11 students. He said 14 people were wounded.

While some officials are confirming the report of children being killed, the Ministry of Defence has denied that the airstrike killed any civilians.&nbsp;Afghanistan's Vice President Amrullah Saleh said that no children were killed and the news along this matter was "baseless".

"Twelve Taliban including several of their commanders were killed," the ministry&nbsp;said.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/taliban-ambush-kills-25-afghan-security-persons-336886">Also read|&nbsp;Taliban ambush kills 25 Afghan security persons</a>

"We have undeniable evidence that those who killed our security forces... were killed," he wrote on Facebook. "Those who spread rumours will be dealt with legally."

Mohammad Jawad Hejri, the spokesman for the Takhar provincial governor, however, confirmed deaths of 11 children.

The ministry has said it will launch an investigation into the matter.

An airstrike hit a mosque in Afghanistan and has taken lives on 11 children and a prayer leader, local authorities reported on Thursday. The incident happened in a village in the northeastern province of Takhar on Wednesday came during the ongoing clashes between the Afghan security forces and Taliban fighters, the provincial police spokesman Khalil Aseer reported.

An airstrike hit a mosque in Afghanistan and has taken lives on 11 children and a prayer leader, local authorities reported on Thursday. The incident happened in a village in the northeastern province of Takhar on Wednesday came during the ongoing clashes between the Afghan security forces and Taliban fighters, the provincial police spokesman Khalil Aseer reported. Also read| Afghanistan's Ata Mohammad Noor meets EAM, Foreign Secretary in Delhi; briefs about the Afghan peace process "The air strike was carried out when the victims were busy studying the Holy Koran," Aseer said, adding a prayer leader was killed alongside the 11 students. He said 14 people were wounded. While some officials are confirming the report of children being killed, the Ministry of Defence has denied that the airstrike killed any civilians. Afghanistan's Vice President Amrullah Saleh said that no children were killed and the news along this matter was "baseless". "Twelve Taliban including several of their commanders were killed," the ministry said. Also read| Taliban ambush kills 25 Afghan security persons "We have undeniable evidence that those who killed our security forces... were killed," he wrote on Facebook. "Those who spread rumours will be dealt with legally." Mohammad Jawad Hejri, the spokesman for the Takhar provincial governor, however, confirmed deaths of 11 children. The ministry has said it will launch an investigation into the matter.

Airstrike that hit mosque kills 11 children in Afghanistan: Officials

Afghan authorities and the Taliban have hit an impasse over the planned release of hundreds of insurgents after opposition from some foreign governments, officials said Monday, apparently stalling peace talks.

The negotiations were expected to begin within days after prominent Afghans met in Kabul on August 9 and approved the release of 400 Taliban prisoners -- including many involved in deadly attacks -- removing a crucial precondition to talks.

While Afghan authorities freed 80 Taliban prisoners on Thursday, there have been no further releases since then.

"There is no plan to release any prisoner today also," an official with the country's National Security Council told AFP on Monday.

President Ashraf Ghani's spokesman Sediq Sediqqi said "two countries had shared their concerns and reservations" about six or seven prisoners among the 400.

"The Afghan government is working with its partners to address the concerns about these prisoners," he told reporters.

Sediqqi did not name the countries, but Paris and Canberra have objected to the release of several insurgents accused of killing French and Australian nationals and soldiers.

Bettina Goislard, a French employee of the UN's refugee agency, was murdered by two Taliban militants in 2003, and a former Afghan soldier killed five French troops and injured 13 others in 2012 in Kapisa province.

France is "firmly opposed to the liberation of individuals sentenced for crimes against French nationals, especially soldiers and humanitarian workers," the foreign ministry said Saturday.

"We have consequently asked Afghan authorities not to proceed with the liberation of these terrorists."

Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison last week said he had lobbied against the release of a former Afghan army soldier who went rogue and killed three Australian partners.

Ghani himself has warned that the 400 militants were a "danger to the world".

Their release is part of a prisoner swap agreed in February between the Taliban and Washington as a precondition for peace talks.

That deal stipulated that Kabul release 5,000 Taliban prisoners in return for 1,000 Afghan security personnel held by the militants.

Afghan authorities say they too have released almost all prisoners, except those remaining from the 400.

The Taliban claim to have released all the 1,000 captives, but Sediqqi said the insurgents were still holding some Afghan soldiers.

"They should have completed this release by now. This exchange cannot be a one-way road," Sediqqi said, adding Taliban violence remained "very high".

The Taliban have said they are willing to begin peace talks "within a week" after all 400 prisoners are freed, and blamed Kabul for delaying the negotiations.

"The matter is stalled because the other side is not releasing the remaining prisoners despite promises," Taliban political spokesman Suhail Shaheen told AFP.

Washington has pushed for the release of the militants.

Afghan authorities and the Taliban have hit an impasse over the planned release of hundreds of insurgents after opposition from some foreign governments, officials said Monday, apparently stalling peace talks.

Afghan authorities and the Taliban have hit an impasse over the planned release of hundreds of insurgents after opposition from some foreign governments, officials said Monday, apparently stalling peace talks. The negotiations were expected to begin within days after prominent Afghans met in Kabul on August 9 and approved the release of 400 Taliban prisoners -- including many involved in deadly attacks -- removing a crucial precondition to talks. While Afghan authorities freed 80 Taliban prisoners on Thursday, there have been no further releases since then. "There is no plan to release any prisoner today also," an official with the country's National Security Council told AFP on Monday. President Ashraf Ghani's spokesman Sediq Sediqqi said "two countries had shared their concerns and reservations" about six or seven prisoners among the 400. "The Afghan government is working with its partners to address the concerns about these prisoners," he told reporters. Sediqqi did not name the countries, but Paris and Canberra have objected to the release of several insurgents accused of killing French and Australian nationals and soldiers. Bettina Goislard, a French employee of the UN's refugee agency, was murdered by two Taliban militants in 2003, and a former Afghan soldier killed five French troops and injured 13 others in 2012 in Kapisa province. France is "firmly opposed to the liberation of individuals sentenced for crimes against French nationals, especially soldiers and humanitarian workers," the foreign ministry said Saturday. "We have consequently asked Afghan authorities not to proceed with the liberation of these terrorists." Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison last week said he had lobbied against the release of a former Afghan army soldier who went rogue and killed three Australian partners. Ghani himself has warned that the 400 militants were a "danger to the world". Their release is part of a prisoner swap agreed in February between the Taliban and Washington as a precondition for peace talks. That deal stipulated that Kabul release 5,000 Taliban prisoners in return for 1,000 Afghan security personnel held by the militants. Afghan authorities say they too have released almost all prisoners, except those remaining from the 400. The Taliban claim to have released all the 1,000 captives, but Sediqqi said the insurgents were still holding some Afghan soldiers. "They should have completed this release by now. This exchange cannot be a one-way road," Sediqqi said, adding Taliban violence remained "very high". The Taliban have said they are willing to begin peace talks "within a week" after all 400 prisoners are freed, and blamed Kabul for delaying the negotiations. "The matter is stalled because the other side is not releasing the remaining prisoners despite promises," Taliban political spokesman Suhail Shaheen told AFP. Washington has pushed for the release of the militants.

Start of Afghan talks uncertain as prisoner release stalls

Thirty-one militants, many of them believed to have been Al-Qaeda fighters, have been killed in airstrikes in south-eastern Afghanistan, officials said Thursday.

The strikes were carried out in Ghazni province late Wednesday, where the defence ministry said they targeted a "base" belonging to the militants.&nbsp;

"Qari Aref, one of the facilitators (for Al-Qaeda) was transferring these 31 terrorists, including nine suicide bombers, in several cars when targeted by airstrikes and eliminated," the ministry said.

It described the fighters as all belonging to the Middle Eastern jihadist group, although a spokesman for the Ghazni governor said fighters from the Taliban-affiliated Haqqani network were also present.&nbsp;

The defence ministry did not specify who carried out the airstrikes. Only Afghan and US forces in Afghanistan conduct airstrikes.

The Ghazni governor's spokesman, Mohammed Aref Noori, said the strikes had been carried out by US forces, but there was no immediate confirmation of his claim.&nbsp;

Al-Qaeda is still believed to be active in parts Afghanistan and Pakistan, where some of its surviving leadership such as Ayman al-Zawahiri are thought to be hiding.

While still regarded as a threat by Afghan and US officials, the group has not been able to conduct major attacks in Afghanistan or repeat the spectacular success of the September 11, 2001 attacks by hijacked airliners on New York and Washington.

Thirty-one militants, many of them believed to have been Al-Qaeda fighters, have been killed in airstrikes in south-eastern Afghanistan, officials said Thursday.

Thirty-one militants, many of them believed to have been Al-Qaeda fighters, have been killed in airstrikes in south-eastern Afghanistan, officials said Thursday. The strikes were carried out in Ghazni province late Wednesday, where the defence ministry said they targeted a "base" belonging to the militants. "Qari Aref, one of the facilitators (for Al-Qaeda) was transferring these 31 terrorists, including nine suicide bombers, in several cars when targeted by airstrikes and eliminated," the ministry said. It described the fighters as all belonging to the Middle Eastern jihadist group, although a spokesman for the Ghazni governor said fighters from the Taliban-affiliated Haqqani network were also present. The defence ministry did not specify who carried out the airstrikes. Only Afghan and US forces in Afghanistan conduct airstrikes. The Ghazni governor's spokesman, Mohammed Aref Noori, said the strikes had been carried out by US forces, but there was no immediate confirmation of his claim. Al-Qaeda is still believed to be active in parts Afghanistan and Pakistan, where some of its surviving leadership such as Ayman al-Zawahiri are thought to be hiding. While still regarded as a threat by Afghan and US officials, the group has not been able to conduct major attacks in Afghanistan or repeat the spectacular success of the September 11, 2001 attacks by hijacked airliners on New York and Washington.

Afghan airstrikes kill 31 militants: Officials

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Airstrike that hit mosque kills 11 children in Afghanistan: Officials

Start of Afghan talks uncertain as prisoner release stalls

Afghan airstrikes kill 31 militants: Officials