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           Afghan Police: US-Led Airstrike Mistakenly Kills Soldiers

   by Ayaz Gul

   Police in southeastern Afghanistan say American helicopters bombed a
   security outpost Monday morning, killing at least eight Afghan soldiers
   and wounding several others.

   The deadly incident happened in Baraki Barak district of Logar
   province, 50 kilometers east of the national capital, Kabul.

   Provincial Police Chief Mohammad Daoud Ahmadi told local media the
   airstrike by the international coalition in Afghanistan mistakenly hit
   the Afghan National Army outpost, saying the suspected target was about
   a kilometer away in the same area.

   U.S. officials say they are aware of the incident and an investigation
   is underway, but would not comment on the damages the bombing caused.

   The airstrike took place a day after U.S. Chairman of the Joint Chiefs
   of Staff General Martin Dempsey visited Kabul, where he met with Afghan
   President Ashraf Ghani who Dempsey said on Twitter "expressed his
   thanks for the stalwart U.S. support to their freedom and security."

   Monday's deadly incident follows an unusual lull in the Taliban-led
   insurgent violence during the three-day Eid festival that marks the end
   of the Islamic fasting month of Ramadan.

   Some observers attribute the temporary pause in insurgent attacks to
   first ever face-to-face talks earlier this month between the Afghan
   government and the Taliban in 14 years.

   Pakistan hosted the peace dialogue in its tourist town of Murree near
   Islamabad. The two sides agreed to meet again after Ramadan, and
   officials acknowledged that the issue of a cease-fire on Eid did come
   up in the discussions.  However, there was no announcement whether
   either side would agree to a cease-fire.
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References

   1. http://www.voanews.com/content/afghan-soldiers-killed-in-airstrike/2870069.html