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Agencies:

Afghan-Taliban conflict: Helicopters carrying wounded troops collide each other

October 14, 2020

A collision between two Afghan army helicopters evacuating wounded soldiers in southern Helmand province has left at least nine people dead. All those who died were on board the helicopters, officials say. The incident early on Wednesday in Nawa district was apparently caused by technical issues.

The area has seen fierce clashes in recent days between the Taliban and Afghan Government forces, supported by U.S airstrikes. The insurgents have been fighting their way to the outskirts of the nearby city of Lashkar Gah where they have already taken control of one district.

The United Nations in Afghanistan says more than 35,000 people have been forced to flee their homes in Helmand. It's the most serious and sustained attack by the Taliban since peace negotiations began last month in Qatar.

So far discussions have been bogged down in attempts to finalize a set of rules and procedures governing the talks and negotiators are yet to broach the broader issues of a ceasefire and possible power sharing arrangement.

Earlier this week, the head of Nato forces in Afghanistan, U.S General Scott Miller condemned the Taliban for undermining the peace talks and violating the agreement they signed with the U.S in February.