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US Airstrike Kills 5 Taliban Fighters in Afghanistan

Ayaz Gul

   ISLAMABAD - The United States said Monday it had conducted an airstrike
   in central Afghanistan, killing at least five Taliban insurgents.
   A military spokesman explained in a tweet the overnight action in Nerkh
   district in Wardak province was taken to defend Afghan security forces
   in line with a February deal between the U.S. and the Taliban aimed at
   ending the nearly two decades of war.
   "We reject the allegations of violating the agreement and of killing
   innocent Afghans," said Col. Sonny Leggett. He was responding to
   allegations by the Taliban that a U.S. drone strike Sunday evening "in
   recurrent violation" of the agreement killed three children in Nerkh.
   The Taliban alleged earlier this month that the U.S. military was
   committing violations of their February 29 pact by carrying out
   airstrikes in areas other than combat zones.
   The U.S.-Taliban accord requires all American and NATO troops to leave
   Afghanistan by May 2021. In return, the insurgents have stopped attacks
   on foreign forces and pledged to fight terrorism as well as negotiate a
   permanent ceasefire with Afghan rivals.

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