Pakistan has released Afghan Taliban's former deputy chief Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar on the intervention of Qatar, a move which could facilitate the peace process in the war-ravaged country, according to a media report on Monday.

Mullah Baradar, one of the four top commanders who formed the Afghan Taliban in 1994, was captured by the Pakistani security agencies in Karachi in 2010.

He has been finally released from jail on the solicitation of the government of Qatar, The News reported Monday, citing its sources.

Mullah Baradar, who is in his 50s, is believed to be the highest-ranking Afghan Taliban prisoner freed so far.

Recently, a high-level delegation of Qatar visited Islamabad and met the senior&nbsp;leadership of Pakistan, the paper said.

It did not give any details of his whereabouts after the release. It was also not clear whether he will be handed over to Afghanistan or stay in Pakistan.

It was reported a few times that Mulla Baradar has been released in Pakistan to negotiate with the Afghan Taliban but he couldn't be freed due to unacceptable conditions imposed by the Afghanistan government, the paper said.

"It is believed that Mulla Baradar's release would help persuade Afghan Taliban to lay down arms and negotiate in new peace talks," it added.

In recent months, the Trump administration has increased pressure on Pakistan to limit the freedom of the Taliban leaders, forcing them to join the peace talks.

Recently, senior American diplomat Zalmay Khalilzad, tasked with helping find a way to end the war in Afghanistan, has met with Taliban representatives in Doha, Qatar.

In a statement, the Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid said early this month six of their representatives met with Khalilzad.

"They talked about the end of occupation and a peaceful resolution for the Afghan issue," Mujahid said. "Both sides agreed to continue their meetings in the future."

Mulla Baradar held several senior positions in the Taliban government before its fall in 2001. He was once considered the most influential Taliban leader after Mullah Muhammad Omar.

Born in the southern Afghan province of Uruzgan, Baradar fought in the war to expel Soviet troops from Afghanistan in the 1980s. When the Taliban came to power in 1996, Baradar became deputy defence minister.&nbsp;

After the Taliban regime was toppled by the US-led forces in 2001, hundreds of Taliban hardliners fled over the border to Pakistan. Baradar was among them.

Pakistan has released Afghan Taliban's former deputy chief Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar on the intervention of Qatar, a move which could facilitate the peace process in the war-ravaged country, according to a media report on Monday.

Pakistan has released Afghan Taliban's former deputy chief Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar on the intervention of Qatar, a move which could facilitate the peace process in the war-ravaged country, according to a media report on Monday. Mullah Baradar, one of the four top commanders who formed the Afghan Taliban in 1994, was captured by the Pakistani security agencies in Karachi in 2010. He has been finally released from jail on the solicitation of the government of Qatar, The News reported Monday, citing its sources. Mullah Baradar, who is in his 50s, is believed to be the highest-ranking Afghan Taliban prisoner freed so far. Recently, a high-level delegation of Qatar visited Islamabad and met the senior leadership of Pakistan, the paper said. It did not give any details of his whereabouts after the release. It was also not clear whether he will be handed over to Afghanistan or stay in Pakistan. It was reported a few times that Mulla Baradar has been released in Pakistan to negotiate with the Afghan Taliban but he couldn't be freed due to unacceptable conditions imposed by the Afghanistan government, the paper said. "It is believed that Mulla Baradar's release would help persuade Afghan Taliban to lay down arms and negotiate in new peace talks," it added. In recent months, the Trump administration has increased pressure on Pakistan to limit the freedom of the Taliban leaders, forcing them to join the peace talks. Recently, senior American diplomat Zalmay Khalilzad, tasked with helping find a way to end the war in Afghanistan, has met with Taliban representatives in Doha, Qatar. In a statement, the Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid said early this month six of their representatives met with Khalilzad. "They talked about the end of occupation and a peaceful resolution for the Afghan issue," Mujahid said. "Both sides agreed to continue their meetings in the future." Mulla Baradar held several senior positions in the Taliban government before its fall in 2001. He was once considered the most influential Taliban leader after Mullah Muhammad Omar. Born in the southern Afghan province of Uruzgan, Baradar fought in the war to expel Soviet troops from Afghanistan in the 1980s. When the Taliban came to power in 1996, Baradar became deputy defence minister. After the Taliban regime was toppled by the US-led forces in 2001, hundreds of Taliban hardliners fled over the border to Pakistan. Baradar was among them.

Pak releases Afghan Taliban's former deputy chief Mullah Baradar: Report

Afghans are bracing for more deadly violence on Saturday as voting gets under way in the long-delayed legislative election that the Taliban has vowed to attack.

After shambolic preparations, polling centres opened at 7:00 am (0230 GMT) across war-torn Afghanistan, but threats of militant attacks and expectations for industrial-scale fraud are likely to deter many voters.&nbsp;

People queueing outside a polling centre in Kabul complained the process was taking too long, apparently due to hiccups with biometric voter verification devices that are being used in the election for the first time.

"I came here early to finish and go home quickly, but we have been waiting for an hour and they have not started yet," Mustafa, 42, told.&nbsp;

"The queue is getting longer. They have to register our votes quickly -- we are afraid a bomber or a blast may hit us."

Chief Executive Abdullah Abdullah, Afghanistan's equivalent of prime minister, also waited for more than half an hour at a polling centre in the Afghan capital as election workers searched for his name on a voter registration list, a live broadcast on Tolo News showed. &nbsp;

Almost nine million people have registered to vote in the parliamentary election, which is more than three years late and only the third since the fall of the Taliban in 2001.&nbsp;

In the days leading up to the poll, the Taliban issued several statements urging candidates to withdraw and voters to boycott what the group calls a "malicious American conspiracy".

The killing of a powerful police chief in a highly secure compound in the southern province of Kandahar on Thursday has eroded confidence in the ability of security forces to protect voting locations.

Voting in Kandahar has been delayed by a week following the attack that killed three people, including General Abdul Raziq.&nbsp;

Despite the risks, President Ashraf Ghani urged "every Aghan, young and old, women and men" to exercise their right to vote, after casting his ballot in Kabul.

Dozens of men and women clutching their identification documents were seen lining up outside voting centres in the Afghan capital, as a heavy security presence blocked many streets.&nbsp;

A woman dressed in a burqa exiting a polling centre in the northern city of Mazar-i-Sharif told AFP she had been worried about "security incidents", but decided to vote anyway.

"We have to defy the violence," Hafiza, 57, said. "In previous years we were not happy with the elections, our votes were sold out."

The Independent Election Commission (IEC), which has been skewered over the chaotic lead-up to the ballot, on Friday urged Afghans to "vote only once" and called on others not to interfere in the process.&nbsp;

"They should observe impartiality in the election so that we have a transparent, impartial and fair election in Afghanistan," IEC chief Abdul Badi Sayyad told reporters.

TALIBAN THREATS 

Preparations for the vote have been marred by a wave of poll-related violence that has left hundreds dead or wounded.&nbsp;

At least 10 candidates out of more than 2,500 contesting the lower-house election have been killed so far.

The most recent victim was Abdul Jabar Qahraman, who was killed Wednesday by a bomb placed under his sofa in the southern province of Helmand.

Most of the candidates are political novices and include doctors, mullahs and journalists. Those with the deepest pockets are expected to win.&nbsp;

The United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan, which has spearheaded international efforts to keep Afghan organisers on track, on Friday called on voters to "exercise their constitutional right to vote".&nbsp;

The poll is seen as a crucial test for next year's presidential election and an important milestone ahead of a UN meeting in Geneva in November where Afghanistan is under pressure to show progress on "democratic processes".

But there are concerns the results could be thrown into turmoil if the biometric verification devices are broken, lost or destroyed.

Votes cast without the controversial machines will not be counted, the IEC has said. 
&nbsp;

Afghans are bracing for more deadly violence on Saturday as voting gets under way in the long-delayed legislative election that the Taliban has vowed to attack. After shambolic preparations, polling centres opened at 7:00 am (0230 GMT) across war-torn Afghanistan, but threats of militant attacks and expectations for industrial-scale fraud are likely to deter many voters.

Afghans are bracing for more deadly violence on Saturday as voting gets under way in the long-delayed legislative election that the Taliban has vowed to attack. After shambolic preparations, polling centres opened at 7:00 am (0230 GMT) across war-torn Afghanistan, but threats of militant attacks and expectations for industrial-scale fraud are likely to deter many voters. People queueing outside a polling centre in Kabul complained the process was taking too long, apparently due to hiccups with biometric voter verification devices that are being used in the election for the first time. "I came here early to finish and go home quickly, but we have been waiting for an hour and they have not started yet," Mustafa, 42, told. "The queue is getting longer. They have to register our votes quickly -- we are afraid a bomber or a blast may hit us." Chief Executive Abdullah Abdullah, Afghanistan's equivalent of prime minister, also waited for more than half an hour at a polling centre in the Afghan capital as election workers searched for his name on a voter registration list, a live broadcast on Tolo News showed. Almost nine million people have registered to vote in the parliamentary election, which is more than three years late and only the third since the fall of the Taliban in 2001. In the days leading up to the poll, the Taliban issued several statements urging candidates to withdraw and voters to boycott what the group calls a "malicious American conspiracy". The killing of a powerful police chief in a highly secure compound in the southern province of Kandahar on Thursday has eroded confidence in the ability of security forces to protect voting locations. Voting in Kandahar has been delayed by a week following the attack that killed three people, including General Abdul Raziq. Despite the risks, President Ashraf Ghani urged "every Aghan, young and old, women and men" to exercise their right to vote, after casting his ballot in Kabul. Dozens of men and women clutching their identification documents were seen lining up outside voting centres in the Afghan capital, as a heavy security presence blocked many streets. A woman dressed in a burqa exiting a polling centre in the northern city of Mazar-i-Sharif told AFP she had been worried about "security incidents", but decided to vote anyway. "We have to defy the violence," Hafiza, 57, said. "In previous years we were not happy with the elections, our votes were sold out." The Independent Election Commission (IEC), which has been skewered over the chaotic lead-up to the ballot, on Friday urged Afghans to "vote only once" and called on others not to interfere in the process. "They should observe impartiality in the election so that we have a transparent, impartial and fair election in Afghanistan," IEC chief Abdul Badi Sayyad told reporters. TALIBAN THREATS Preparations for the vote have been marred by a wave of poll-related violence that has left hundreds dead or wounded. At least 10 candidates out of more than 2,500 contesting the lower-house election have been killed so far. The most recent victim was Abdul Jabar Qahraman, who was killed Wednesday by a bomb placed under his sofa in the southern province of Helmand. Most of the candidates are political novices and include doctors, mullahs and journalists. Those with the deepest pockets are expected to win. The United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan, which has spearheaded international efforts to keep Afghan organisers on track, on Friday called on voters to "exercise their constitutional right to vote". The poll is seen as a crucial test for next year's presidential election and an important milestone ahead of a UN meeting in Geneva in November where Afghanistan is under pressure to show progress on "democratic processes". But there are concerns the results could be thrown into turmoil if the biometric verification devices are broken, lost or destroyed. Votes cast without the controversial machines will not be counted, the IEC has said.

Afghans brave militant threat to vote in delayed election

Afghans are bracing for more deadly violence on Saturday as voters turn out for the long-delayed legislative election across the war-torn country that the Taliban has vowed to attack.

Some 54,000 security forces have been deployed to protect polling centres, which open at 7:00 am, but there are concerns the killing of a powerful police chief on Thursday will scare off many voters.&nbsp;

Voting has been delayed in the southern province of Kandahar after a Taliban-claimed attack on a US-Afghan security meeting that killed three people, including General Abdul Raziq.

General Scott Miller, the top US and NATO commander in Afghanistan, escaped injury in the shooting, but 13 others were wounded.

Almost nine million people have registered to vote in the parliamentary election, which is more than three years late and only the third since the fall of the Taliban in 2001.

But the threat of militant attacks and expectations for massive fraud are expected to deter many voters from showing up at the more than 5,000 polling centres.&nbsp;

In the days leading up to the poll, the Taliban has issued several statements urging candidates to withdraw and voters to boycott what the group calls a "malicious American conspiracy".

Shambolic preparations for the ballot have been made worse by a wave of poll-related violence that has left hundreds dead or wounded.&nbsp;

At least 10 candidates out of more than 2,500 contesting the lower-house election have been killed so far.

The most recent victim was Abdul Jabar Qahraman, who was blown up Wednesday by a bomb placed under his sofa in the southern province of Helmand.

Most of the candidates are political novices and include doctors, mullahs and journalists. Those with the deepest pockets are expected to win.&nbsp;

The United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan, which has spearheaded international efforts to keep Afghan election organisers on track, on Friday urged voters to "exercise their constitutional right to vote".&nbsp;

The poll is seen as a crucial test for next year's presidential election and an important milestone ahead of a UN meeting in Geneva in November where Afghanistan is under pressure to show progress on "democratic processes".

But the eleventh hour introduction of biometric voter verification machines, which have never been used in an Afghan election, threatens to derail the&nbsp;process.

Observers are concerned the results could be thrown into turmoil if the devices are broken, lost or destroyed.

There are also fears the data could be manipulated before preliminary results are released on November 10.

Votes cast without the controversial machines will not be counted, the Independent Election Commission has said, even though polling centre workers have received little or no training in how to use them.

Afghans are bracing for more deadly violence on Saturday as voters turn out for the long-delayed legislative election across the war-torn country that the Taliban has vowed to attack.

Afghans are bracing for more deadly violence on Saturday as voters turn out for the long-delayed legislative election across the war-torn country that the Taliban has vowed to attack. Some 54,000 security forces have been deployed to protect polling centres, which open at 7:00 am, but there are concerns the killing of a powerful police chief on Thursday will scare off many voters. Voting has been delayed in the southern province of Kandahar after a Taliban-claimed attack on a US-Afghan security meeting that killed three people, including General Abdul Raziq. General Scott Miller, the top US and NATO commander in Afghanistan, escaped injury in the shooting, but 13 others were wounded. Almost nine million people have registered to vote in the parliamentary election, which is more than three years late and only the third since the fall of the Taliban in 2001. But the threat of militant attacks and expectations for massive fraud are expected to deter many voters from showing up at the more than 5,000 polling centres. In the days leading up to the poll, the Taliban has issued several statements urging candidates to withdraw and voters to boycott what the group calls a "malicious American conspiracy". Shambolic preparations for the ballot have been made worse by a wave of poll-related violence that has left hundreds dead or wounded. At least 10 candidates out of more than 2,500 contesting the lower-house election have been killed so far. The most recent victim was Abdul Jabar Qahraman, who was blown up Wednesday by a bomb placed under his sofa in the southern province of Helmand. Most of the candidates are political novices and include doctors, mullahs and journalists. Those with the deepest pockets are expected to win. The United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan, which has spearheaded international efforts to keep Afghan election organisers on track, on Friday urged voters to "exercise their constitutional right to vote". The poll is seen as a crucial test for next year's presidential election and an important milestone ahead of a UN meeting in Geneva in November where Afghanistan is under pressure to show progress on "democratic processes". But the eleventh hour introduction of biometric voter verification machines, which have never been used in an Afghan election, threatens to derail the process. Observers are concerned the results could be thrown into turmoil if the devices are broken, lost or destroyed. There are also fears the data could be manipulated before preliminary results are released on November 10. Votes cast without the controversial machines will not be counted, the Independent Election Commission has said, even though polling centre workers have received little or no training in how to use them.

Afghanistan braces for militant attacks as voters go to the polls

Three rockets hit the Afghan's Ghazni on Thursday while&nbsp;President Ashraf Ghani was visiting the city.

No was killed or injured in the assault which reportedly was a display of strength by terrorists as they attack across the country.

Taliban has claimed responsibility for the attack.

According to report, one of the rockets landed about 200 metres (660 feet) from the Ghazni governor's office, where Ghani was holding meetings with security officials, religious leaders and members of civil society.&nbsp;

It was Ghani's second visit to Ghazni since the Taliban's raid on the city in early August.&nbsp;

His visit to Ghazni, accompanied by his wife, was aimed at assessing the security situation in the city.

Ghazni, on the main highway between the capital Kabul and southern Afghanistan, still bears the scars of days of heavy combat last month when hundreds of Taliban fighters stormed the city and overran large parts of the centre.

The United Nations estimates at least 200 civilians were killed in the days-long battle that analysts said delivered the Taliban a military and psychological win against the government.

Days later multiple mortar rounds were fired on Kabul, landing near the presidential palace as Ghani delivered a speech on the first day of the Eid al-Adha holiday. The attack was claimed by the Islamic State group.

The Taliban have made significant gains on the battlefield in recent months, amid intensifying Afghan and international efforts to persuade the militants to discuss a peace deal.

(With inputs from news agencies)

Three rockets hit the Afghan's Ghazni on Thursday while President Ashraf Ghani was visiting the city. No was killed or injured in the assault which reportedly was a display of strength by terrorists as they attack across the country.

Three rockets hit the Afghan's Ghazni on Thursday while President Ashraf Ghani was visiting the city. No was killed or injured in the assault which reportedly was a display of strength by terrorists as they attack across the country. Taliban has claimed responsibility for the attack. According to report, one of the rockets landed about 200 metres (660 feet) from the Ghazni governor's office, where Ghani was holding meetings with security officials, religious leaders and members of civil society. It was Ghani's second visit to Ghazni since the Taliban's raid on the city in early August. His visit to Ghazni, accompanied by his wife, was aimed at assessing the security situation in the city. Ghazni, on the main highway between the capital Kabul and southern Afghanistan, still bears the scars of days of heavy combat last month when hundreds of Taliban fighters stormed the city and overran large parts of the centre. The United Nations estimates at least 200 civilians were killed in the days-long battle that analysts said delivered the Taliban a military and psychological win against the government. Days later multiple mortar rounds were fired on Kabul, landing near the presidential palace as Ghani delivered a speech on the first day of the Eid al-Adha holiday. The attack was claimed by the Islamic State group. The Taliban have made significant gains on the battlefield in recent months, amid intensifying Afghan and international efforts to persuade the militants to discuss a peace deal. (With inputs from news agencies)

Afghanistan: Rockets hit Ghazni during president Ashraf Ghani's visit, Taliban claims responsibility

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