US-led airstrike kills 3 policemen in north Afghanistan

At least three Afghan policemen have been killed when US-led foreign forces launched an airstrike in Afghanistan’s northern province of Parwan.

Afghan authorities said the airborne attack took place in the Ghorband district of the province, situated about 40 kilometers (25 miles) north of the capital, Kabul, on Friday and targeted local police forces. A fourth police officer was wounded in the raid.

The US-led International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) has launched an investigation into the incident.

The US-led forces have recently increased their air raids against civilian areas of Afghanistan.

On August 10, at least six people were killed after US-led foreign forces carried out two drone strikes in Afghanistan’s central province of Maidan Wardak. Several people were also injured in the attacks.

On the same day, a drone attack in the eastern province of Nangarhar left at least five people dead. Two children were among the injured.

On August 6, at least 20 people were killed in repeated drone strikes carried out by US-led foreign forces in Afghanistan’s eastern province of Nuristan, while another air raid in the country’s eastern province of Ghazni left six others dead.

Civilian casualties have long been a source of friction between the Afghan government and US-led forces, and have dramatically increased anti-US sentiments in the country.

The United States and its allies invaded Afghanistan in October 2001 as part of Washington’s so-called war on terror. The offensive removed the Taliban from power, but insecurity continues to rise across the country, despite the presence of thousands of US-led troops.