Taliban commanders have banned health workers including polio vaccinators from swathes of Afghanistan after accusing them of collecting intelligence used to target militant leaders with drones and other air strikes.

The insurgent movement has blocked both the World Health Organization and Red Cross from operating in areas under their control.

Its military commission alleges internationally-backed health workers collect information used to find and kill Taliban leaders in special forces raids and air strikes.

America has dramatically ramped up air strikes since Donald Trump vowed to pursue a more aggressive campaign in Afghanistan in 2017.

Last year saw the most air strikes in a decade, as US Air Force tried to dislodge Islamic State and reverse Taliban gains.

US fighters, bombers and drones released 7,362 weapons in 2018, more than the three previous years combined.

More than 180,000 children have gone without polio vaccination in parts of southern Afghanistan the past two months because of the ban, which comes as health officials fear the eradication campaign is stalling.