.Afghanistan: Taliban 'shot down NATO jet 'in south
Kabul, 20 July (AKI) - The Taliban on Monday reportedly claimed they shot down a NATO-led International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) fighter jet that crashed on Monday in Afghanistan's southern Kandahar province. The jet crashed at the Kandahar Air Field, NATO's main military base in the Taliban stronghold of Kandahar.
Afghan news agency, Pajhwok, said the Taliban claimed they had they shot down the aircraft whose two pilots were injured when they were forced to eject from the burning plane.
Taliban spokesman, Zabihulla Mujahed, said insurgents had shot down the military aircraft but did not explain how they had done so.
ISAF denied Taliban insurgents were involved in shooting down the fighter jet but said it would probe the incident.
"The incident will be investigated, however, insurgent activity has been ruled out," ISAF said in a statement.
The aircraft came down shortly after take-off from the NATO military base and caught fire. The incident occurred only one day after 16 civilians were killed when a helicopter crashed at the same base, an ISAF spokesman said.
Meanwhile, a roadside bomb exploded in western Afghanistan on Monday, killing 12 civilians. It is believed the bomb was aimed at Afghan or foreign troops.
The bomb was planted on a main road in Farah province used by Afghan and foreign troops transiting the province, which has frequently been mined by Taliban insurgents.
Afghanistan has seen rising levels of violence in recent months as insurgents have vowed to counter the current surge in foreign forces.
Fifty troops have been killed in this month alone - the highest death toll since the war began in 2001. The casualties are causing concern in soldiers' home countries - especially in the United States and Britain - over whether they are adequately equipped and whether the mission is valid.
The US has warned countries contributing to ISAF that tough fighting that lies ahead during the coming months, especially as soldiers move out of their bases in search for Taliban in their southern stronghold.
There are currently around 90,000 foreign troops helping Kabul fight the Taliban insurgency, mostly from the US, Britain, and Canada. The US has approved sending 68,000 troops to Afghanistan by the end of 2009, including 21,000 that were added this spring.
The spike in violence comes ahead of key presidential and provincial council elections on 20 August.
AKI
Afghan news agency, Pajhwok, said the Taliban claimed they had they shot down the aircraft whose two pilots were injured when they were forced to eject from the burning plane.
Taliban spokesman, Zabihulla Mujahed, said insurgents had shot down the military aircraft but did not explain how they had done so.
ISAF denied Taliban insurgents were involved in shooting down the fighter jet but said it would probe the incident.
"The incident will be investigated, however, insurgent activity has been ruled out," ISAF said in a statement.
The aircraft came down shortly after take-off from the NATO military base and caught fire. The incident occurred only one day after 16 civilians were killed when a helicopter crashed at the same base, an ISAF spokesman said.
Meanwhile, a roadside bomb exploded in western Afghanistan on Monday, killing 12 civilians. It is believed the bomb was aimed at Afghan or foreign troops.
The bomb was planted on a main road in Farah province used by Afghan and foreign troops transiting the province, which has frequently been mined by Taliban insurgents.
Afghanistan has seen rising levels of violence in recent months as insurgents have vowed to counter the current surge in foreign forces.
Fifty troops have been killed in this month alone - the highest death toll since the war began in 2001. The casualties are causing concern in soldiers' home countries - especially in the United States and Britain - over whether they are adequately equipped and whether the mission is valid.
The US has warned countries contributing to ISAF that tough fighting that lies ahead during the coming months, especially as soldiers move out of their bases in search for Taliban in their southern stronghold.
There are currently around 90,000 foreign troops helping Kabul fight the Taliban insurgency, mostly from the US, Britain, and Canada. The US has approved sending 68,000 troops to Afghanistan by the end of 2009, including 21,000 that were added this spring.
The spike in violence comes ahead of key presidential and provincial council elections on 20 August.
AKI
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