As the Afghan military attempts to push back Taliban fighters, an air raid has killed 10 security personnel in Helmand province, according to an official.

At least nine Afghan police officers were wounded in the "erroneous" air attack in Gereshk district and an investigation is under way, Hayatullah Hayat, Helmand governor, told AFP news agency.

"The air strike happened as Afghan forces were pushing to break through the Taliban front line in the strategic area that has been the scene of heavy fighting over the past several days," Hayat said.

The incident, which was confirmed by the defence ministry, comes more than two months after US aerial bombardment killed 16 Afghan police officers and wounded two others in the same district, large parts of which are under Taliban control.

Most of opium-rich Helmand province is controlled or contested by the Taliban, who are heavily reliant on the proceeds of drug trafficking to finance their armed campaign.

Kabul meeting

In other developments on Sunday, Afghan President Ashraf Ghani met Pakistan's army chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa in Kabul.

The two sides discussed regional security and bilateral relations, a statement released by the Afghan Presidential Palace said.

The Taliban and the Haqqani network group remain deeply entrenched in Afghanistan.

They are seen as a major destabilising force in the country as well as for the NATO coalition currently active there.

The Afghan government statement said both sides discussed "peace and stability, counterterrorism, trade and transit relations, and short-term and long-term Afghanistan-Pakistan relations," in what the palace hailed as "a new chapter" in bilateral ties.

The two sides pledged to follow up on the issues discussed in the meeting.

Pakistan argues that it carries out offensives against all groups of fighters in its tribal regions near the Afghan border, and that it is also a victim of armed groups.

New US policy

Afghanistan and Pakistan have long accused each other of housing "terrorist" groups that launch attacks in neighbouring countries.

Bajwa's visit comes on the heels of President Trump's announcement about a new US policy towards South Asia.

In a speech that was short on details, Trump had harsh words for Pakistan, accusing the country of knowingly harbouring Afghan fighters.

He also said the US would increase its presence in Afghanistan and encouraged Pakistan's chief rival India to play a greater role in the region.

Last week, Pakistan's foreign minister told a seminar in New York that effective border management with Afghanistan is imperative to stop the infiltration of "terrorists".







