Pakistan has taken action against all Islamist militants including the Haqqani network, the army spokesman said on Monday hours ahead of a US&nbsp;announcement on Afghan policy that could herald a tougher stance towards Islamabad.

&quot;There are no terrorist hideouts in Pakistan. We have operated against all terrorists, including (the) Haqqani network,&quot; spokesman Major General Asif Ghafoor told a media briefing in Islamabad.

He said evidence to that effect was shared with General Joseph Votel, chief of the US Central Command, who visited Pakistan over the weekend.

US officials say Afghan&#39;s Islamist Taliban insurgents and the allied Haqqani network, deemed the most lethal Afghan militant group, are supported by elements of Pakistan&#39;s military and top intelligence agency, a charge Islamabad denies.

US President Donald Trump was expected in an address to the nation due at 0100 GMT to address the future of relations with Islamabad, part of a review of policy on the protracted war in neighbouring Afghanistan.

With Taliban insurgent forces no nearer to defeat after more than 15 years of conflict, Trump was likely to announce a modest increase in US&nbsp;troop numbers in Afghanistan, a senior administration official said.

&quot;As regard to US policy, and even if it comes with certain coercive, you know, announcements, Pakistan shall do whatever is best in the national interest,&quot; Ghafoor said.

Votel met Pakistan&#39;s army chief, General Qamar Javed Bajwa, and on Saturday toured the Waziristan area that was long the base of local and foreign militants along the Afghan border, where Pakistan&#39;s military waged a campaign to drive them out.

Washington and Islamabad have at times had a rocky relationship, including over the secret US raid inside Pakistan in 2011 that killed Al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden.

Relations have been under scrutiny in Trump&#39;s lengthy review of a new strategy and troop levels in the fight against the Taliban and other Islamist militants in Afghanistan.

The statement from the Pakistani Army spokesperson comes before US President Trump is expected to unveil a new strategy in Afghanistan

Pakistan has taken action against all Islamist militants including the Haqqani network, the army spokesman said on Monday hours ahead of a US announcement on Afghan policy that could herald a tougher stance towards Islamabad. "There are no terrorist hideouts in Pakistan. We have operated against all terrorists, including (the) Haqqani network," spokesman Major General Asif Ghafoor told a media briefing in Islamabad. He said evidence to that effect was shared with General Joseph Votel, chief of the US Central Command, who visited Pakistan over the weekend. US officials say Afghan's Islamist Taliban insurgents and the allied Haqqani network, deemed the most lethal Afghan militant group, are supported by elements of Pakistan's military and top intelligence agency, a charge Islamabad denies. US President Donald Trump was expected in an address to the nation due at 0100 GMT to address the future of relations with Islamabad, part of a review of policy on the protracted war in neighbouring Afghanistan. With Taliban insurgent forces no nearer to defeat after more than 15 years of conflict, Trump was likely to announce a modest increase in US troop numbers in Afghanistan, a senior administration official said. "As regard to US policy, and even if it comes with certain coercive, you know, announcements, Pakistan shall do whatever is best in the national interest," Ghafoor said. Votel met Pakistan's army chief, General Qamar Javed Bajwa, and on Saturday toured the Waziristan area that was long the base of local and foreign militants along the Afghan border, where Pakistan's military waged a campaign to drive them out. Washington and Islamabad have at times had a rocky relationship, including over the secret US raid inside Pakistan in 2011 that killed Al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden. Relations have been under scrutiny in Trump's lengthy review of a new strategy and troop levels in the fight against the Taliban and other Islamist militants in Afghanistan.

Pakistan has cracked down on Islamist militants including Haqqani network: Army

A US airstrike has killed 16 policemen in Afghanistan, officials said Saturday, the latest setback to Washington&#39;s efforts to bring peace to the war-torn country.

The incident took place in Helmand province on Friday as Afghan security forces attempted to clear a village of Taliban militants, Salam Afghan, a police spokesman, told AFP.

&quot;In the strike, 16 Afghan policemen were killed including two commanders. Two other policemen were wounded,&quot; he said.&nbsp;

The strike hit a compound in Gereshk district in Helmand, large parts of which are under Taliban control.

&quot;A US-supported (Afghan security) operation...resulted in the deaths of... friendly Afghan forces who were gathered in a compound,&quot; NATO&#39;s mission in Afghanistan said in a statement.&nbsp;

&quot;We would like to express our deepest condolences to the families affected by this unfortunate incident,&quot; the statement said, adding there would be a probe into what happened.

An interior ministry spokesman, Najeeb Danish, said a ministry delegation had been sent to the area to investigate and help families of the victims.

Helmand for years was the centrepiece of the US and British military intervention in Afghanistan.

But the Taliban now effectively controls or contests 10 of Helmand&#39;s 14 districts, blighted by a huge opium harvest that helps fund the insurgency.&nbsp;

In April, some 300 US Marines returned to the province as embattled Afghan security forces struggle to beat back the resurgent Taliban.

The surge helped Afghan security forces, backed by US air strikes, recapture Nawa district in Helmand six months ago.&nbsp;

The operation came as Pentagon chief Jim Mattis finalised plans to present a new Afghanistan strategy to President Donald Trump in a bid to reverse what US generals call a &quot;stalemate&quot; at best.&nbsp;

In February, a US airstrike in Sangin killed at least 18 civilians, mostly women and children.

Last November 32 Afghan civilians were killed in a US airstrike in the northeastern province of Kunduz.

In October 2015, a US air strike hit a hospital run by Medecins Sans Frontieres, killing 42 people and sparking international outrage.

The incident took place in Helmand province on Friday as Afghan security forces attempted to clear a village of Taliban militants

A US airstrike has killed 16 policemen in Afghanistan, officials said Saturday, the latest setback to Washington's efforts to bring peace to the war-torn country. The incident took place in Helmand province on Friday as Afghan security forces attempted to clear a village of Taliban militants, Salam Afghan, a police spokesman, told AFP. "In the strike, 16 Afghan policemen were killed including two commanders. Two other policemen were wounded," he said. The strike hit a compound in Gereshk district in Helmand, large parts of which are under Taliban control. "A US-supported (Afghan security) operation...resulted in the deaths of... friendly Afghan forces who were gathered in a compound," NATO's mission in Afghanistan said in a statement. "We would like to express our deepest condolences to the families affected by this unfortunate incident," the statement said, adding there would be a probe into what happened. An interior ministry spokesman, Najeeb Danish, said a ministry delegation had been sent to the area to investigate and help families of the victims. Helmand for years was the centrepiece of the US and British military intervention in Afghanistan. But the Taliban now effectively controls or contests 10 of Helmand's 14 districts, blighted by a huge opium harvest that helps fund the insurgency. In April, some 300 US Marines returned to the province as embattled Afghan security forces struggle to beat back the resurgent Taliban. The surge helped Afghan security forces, backed by US air strikes, recapture Nawa district in Helmand six months ago. The operation came as Pentagon chief Jim Mattis finalised plans to present a new Afghanistan strategy to President Donald Trump in a bid to reverse what US generals call a "stalemate" at best. In February, a US airstrike in Sangin killed at least 18 civilians, mostly women and children. Last November 32 Afghan civilians were killed in a US airstrike in the northeastern province of Kunduz. In October 2015, a US air strike hit a hospital run by Medecins Sans Frontieres, killing 42 people and sparking international outrage.

16 Afghan policemen killed in US strike

Taliban leader on Sunday urged Afghans to plant more trees as the militant organisation gears up for the beginning of the annual fighting season.&nbsp;

In a rare public remark,&nbsp;Haibatullah Akhundzada posted the message on the group&#39;s website, saying: &quot;The Mujahideen and beloved countrymen must join hands in tree plantation and not hold back any effort in this regard.&quot;

Akhundzada further eulogised about the importance of trees: &quot;(They play) an&nbsp;important role in environmental protection, economic development and beautification of earth.&quot;

Akhundzada took over the reins of Taliban after his predecessor Akhtar Mansour and the second-in-command were killed in a US drone strike in Pakistan last May.&nbsp;

Sediq Sediqqi, the interior ministry spokesman, responded by saying the&nbsp;Taliban&nbsp;should stop planting bombs instead.&nbsp;

&quot;They should stop planting IEDs (Improvised Explosive Devices) that are killing so many innocent Afghans including children and women daily&quot;, he said on his Twitter account.&nbsp;

Afghan civilian casualties in 2016 were the highest recorded by the UN, with nearly 11,500 non-combatants killed or wounded.

More than 3,500 children were among the victims, a &quot;disproportionate&quot; increase of 24 percent in one year, the UN said in a recent report.

Afghanistan last year also saw the highest recorded civilian casualties caused by pressure-plate IEDs in a single year, according to the world body.

(WION with inputs from AFP)

Sediq Sediqqi, the interior ministry spokesman, responded by saying the?Taliban?should stop planting bombs instead

Taliban leader on Sunday urged Afghans to plant more trees as the militant organisation gears up for the beginning of the annual fighting season. In a rare public remark, Haibatullah Akhundzada posted the message on the group's website, saying: "The Mujahideen and beloved countrymen must join hands in tree plantation and not hold back any effort in this regard." Akhundzada further eulogised about the importance of trees: "(They play) an important role in environmental protection, economic development and beautification of earth." Akhundzada took over the reins of Taliban after his predecessor Akhtar Mansour and the second-in-command were killed in a US drone strike in Pakistan last May. Sediq Sediqqi, the interior ministry spokesman, responded by saying the Taliban should stop planting bombs instead. "They should stop planting IEDs (Improvised Explosive Devices) that are killing so many innocent Afghans including children and women daily", he said on his Twitter account. Afghan civilian casualties in 2016 were the highest recorded by the UN, with nearly 11,500 non-combatants killed or wounded. More than 3,500 children were among the victims, a "disproportionate" increase of 24 percent in one year, the UN said in a recent report. Afghanistan last year also saw the highest recorded civilian casualties caused by pressure-plate IEDs in a single year, according to the world body. (WION with inputs from AFP)

Taliban calls on Afghans to plant trees as 'Spring offensive' looms

Eight local policemen were killed by their colleagues after they were poisoned in their base in southern Afghanistan, officials said Saturday, in a latest so-called &quot;insider attack&quot;.

The Taliban claimed responsibility for the incident, which happened in the Nawshar district of southern Zabul province late on Friday, as the militants escalate a deadly winter campaign of violence.

&quot;The infiltrators first poisoned their colleagues and then shot them dead,&quot; provincial spokesman Gul Islam Seyal told AFP, adding that the attackers fled the area taking all the weapons and munitions from the base.

The governor of Zabul Bismillah Afghanmal said they had launched an investigation into the incident. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid said in a message to the media that the group&#39;s &quot;infiltrators&quot; carried out the attack.

So-called insider attacks -- when Afghan soldiers and police turn their guns on their colleagues or on international troops -- have been a major problem during the more than 15-year-long war.

Such attacks have sapped morale and caused deep mistrust within security ranks.

In a similar incident last month, an Afghan policeman linked to the Taliban shot dead 11 of his colleagues at a checkpoint in the neighboring Helmand province.

And last September, two Afghan soldiers with suspected Taliban links killed at least 12 of their comrades as they slept in the volatile northern province of Kunduz.

(AFP)

The Taliban claimed responsibility for the incident, which occurred in southern Afghanistan

Eight local policemen were killed by their colleagues after they were poisoned in their base in southern Afghanistan, officials said Saturday, in a latest so-called "insider attack". The Taliban claimed responsibility for the incident, which happened in the Nawshar district of southern Zabul province late on Friday, as the militants escalate a deadly winter campaign of violence. "The infiltrators first poisoned their colleagues and then shot them dead," provincial spokesman Gul Islam Seyal told AFP, adding that the attackers fled the area taking all the weapons and munitions from the base. The governor of Zabul Bismillah Afghanmal said they had launched an investigation into the incident. Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid said in a message to the media that the group's "infiltrators" carried out the attack. So-called insider attacks -- when Afghan soldiers and police turn their guns on their colleagues or on international troops -- have been a major problem during the more than 15-year-long war. Such attacks have sapped morale and caused deep mistrust within security ranks. In a similar incident last month, an Afghan policeman linked to the Taliban shot dead 11 of his colleagues at a checkpoint in the neighboring Helmand province. And last September, two Afghan soldiers with suspected Taliban links killed at least 12 of their comrades as they slept in the volatile northern province of Kunduz. (AFP)

Eight Afghan policemen poisoned by colleague

Two American soldiers were killed and two others wounded on Thursday during operations in Kunduz province, US officials said.

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The victims were on a &quot;train, advise, assist&quot; mission with Afghan forces to &quot;clear a Taliban position and disrupt the group&#39;s operations,&quot; American news network NBC News quoted US military as saying.

The soldiers came under fire as they were assisting Afghan troops to clear a Taliban position and disrupt the group&#39;s operations in Kunduz, US forces said in a brief statement. 
NBC News further reported that the names of the victims were not immediately released because all their families had not been notified.

&quot;On behalf of all of US Forces, Afghanistan, today&#39;s loss is heartbreaking and we offer our deepest condolences to the families and friends of our service members who lost their lives today,&quot; said John Nicholson, commander of NATO&#39;s Resolute Support Mission and US Forces in Afghanistan.

Kunduz province is a Taliban hotbed in northern Afghanistan.&nbsp;

(WION)

US officials said two others were wounded on Thursday during operations in Kunduz province, a Taliban hotbed in northern Afghanistan

Two American soldiers were killed and two others wounded on Thursday during operations in Kunduz province, US officials said. The victims were on a "train, advise, assist" mission with Afghan forces to "clear a Taliban position and disrupt the group's operations," American news network NBC News quoted US military as saying. The soldiers came under fire as they were assisting Afghan troops to clear a Taliban position and disrupt the group's operations in Kunduz, US forces said in a brief statement. NBC News further reported that the names of the victims were not immediately released because all their families had not been notified. "On behalf of all of US Forces, Afghanistan, today's loss is heartbreaking and we offer our deepest condolences to the families and friends of our service members who lost their lives today," said John Nicholson, commander of NATO's Resolute Support Mission and US Forces in Afghanistan. Kunduz province is a Taliban hotbed in northern Afghanistan. (WION)

Afghanistan: 2 US soldiers killed in anti-Taliban operations in Kunduz