Zero Point By Javed Chaudhry

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihL1DzQtPRFTjWD3wx_neFRkbpd9fDvyyKi7rSSVE4C_x1r6VJmmQSJc96zH8_LT7PrkeSmY2MSpp4qL8vWN0lwY1yXULbuAC68miNRdElpdE_Tv95b7sLfqNJE-cvp5S3A3yuHJS1yvgW/s1600/66cf39c08294f99a0a3b3d290499635e2e06fd01.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="US PNG" border="0" data-original-height="493" data-original-width="768" height="410" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihL1DzQtPRFTjWD3wx_neFRkbpd9fDvyyKi7rSSVE4C_x1r6VJmmQSJc96zH8_LT7PrkeSmY2MSpp4qL8vWN0lwY1yXULbuAC68miNRdElpdE_Tv95b7sLfqNJE-cvp5S3A3yuHJS1yvgW/s640/66cf39c08294f99a0a3b3d290499635e2e06fd01.gif" title="US strike kills 16 Afghan policemen in Helmand province" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="canvas-atom canvas-text Mb(1.0em) Mb(0)--sm Mt(0.8em)--sm" content="A US airstrike has killed 16 policemen in Afghanistan, officials said Saturday, the latest setback to Washington's efforts to bring peace to the war-torn country." data-reactid="22" style="background-color: white; color: #26282a; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin-bottom: 1em;" type="text">
<br /></div>
<div class="canvas-atom canvas-text Mb(1.0em) Mb(0)--sm Mt(0.8em)--sm" content="A US airstrike has killed 16 policemen in Afghanistan, officials said Saturday, the latest setback to Washington's efforts to bring peace to the war-torn country." data-reactid="22" style="background-color: white; color: #26282a; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin-bottom: 1em;" type="text">
A US airstrike has killed 16 policemen in Afghanistan, officials said Saturday, the latest setback to Washington's efforts to bring peace to the war-torn country.</div>
<div class="canvas-atom canvas-text Mb(1.0em) Mb(0)--sm Mt(0.8em)--sm" content="The incident took place in Helmand province on Friday as Afghan security forces attempted to clear a village of Taliban militants, Salam Afghan, a police spokesman, told AFP." data-reactid="23" style="background-color: white; color: #26282a; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin-bottom: 1em;" type="text">
The incident took place in Helmand province on Friday as Afghan security forces attempted to clear a village of Taliban militants, Salam Afghan, a police spokesman, told AFP.</div>
<div class="canvas-atom canvas-text Mb(1.0em) Mb(0)--sm Mt(0.8em)--sm" content=""In the strike, 16 Afghan policemen were killed including two commanders. Two other policemen were wounded," he said." data-reactid="24" style="background-color: white; color: #26282a; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin-bottom: 1em;" type="text">
"In the strike, 16 Afghan policemen were killed including two commanders. Two other policemen were wounded," he said.</div>
<div class="canvas-atom canvas-text Mb(1.0em) Mb(0)--sm Mt(0.8em)--sm" content="The strike hit a compound in Gereshk district in Helmand, large parts of which are under Taliban control." data-reactid="25" style="background-color: white; color: #26282a; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin-bottom: 1em;" type="text">
The strike hit a compound in Gereshk district in Helmand, large parts of which are under Taliban control.</div>
<div class="canvas-atom canvas-text Mb(1.0em) Mb(0)--sm Mt(0.8em)--sm" content=""A US-supported (Afghan security) operation...resulted in the deaths of... friendly Afghan forces who were gathered in a compound," NATO's mission in Afghanistan said in a statement." data-reactid="26" style="background-color: white; color: #26282a; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin-bottom: 1em;" type="text">
"A US-supported (Afghan security) operation...resulted in the deaths of... friendly Afghan forces who were gathered in a compound," NATO's mission in Afghanistan said in a statement.</div>
<div class="canvas-atom canvas-text Mb(1.0em) Mb(0)--sm Mt(0.8em)--sm" content=""We would like to express our deepest condolences to the families affected by this unfortunate incident," the statement said, adding there would be a probe into what happened." data-reactid="27" style="background-color: white; color: #26282a; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin-bottom: 1em;" type="text">
"We would like to express our deepest condolences to the families affected by this unfortunate incident," the statement said, adding there would be a probe into what happened.</div>
<div class="canvas-atom canvas-text Mb(1.0em) Mb(0)--sm Mt(0.8em)--sm" content="An interior ministry spokesman, Najeeb Danish, said a ministry delegation had been sent to the area to investigate and help families of the victims." data-reactid="28" style="background-color: white; color: #26282a; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin-bottom: 1em;" type="text">
An interior ministry spokesman, Najeeb Danish, said a ministry delegation had been sent to the area to investigate and help families of the victims.</div>
<div class="canvas-atom canvas-text Mb(1.0em) Mb(0)--sm Mt(0.8em)--sm" content="Helmand for years was the centrepiece of the US and British military intervention in Afghanistan." data-reactid="29" style="background-color: white; color: #26282a; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin-bottom: 1em;" type="text">
Helmand for years was the centrepiece of the US and British military intervention in Afghanistan.</div>
<div class="canvas-atom canvas-text Mb(1.0em) Mb(0)--sm Mt(0.8em)--sm" content="But the Taliban now effectively controls or contests 10 of Helmand's 14 districts, blighted by a huge opium harvest that helps fund the insurgency." data-reactid="30" style="background-color: white; color: #26282a; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin-bottom: 1em;" type="text">
But the Taliban now effectively controls or contests 10 of Helmand's 14 districts, blighted by a huge opium harvest that helps fund the insurgency.</div>
<div class="canvas-atom canvas-text Mb(1.0em) Mb(0)--sm Mt(0.8em)--sm" content="In April, some 300 US Marines returned to the province as embattled Afghan security forces struggle to beat back the resurgent Taliban." data-reactid="31" style="background-color: white; color: #26282a; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin-bottom: 1em;" type="text">
In April, some 300 US Marines returned to the province as embattled Afghan security forces struggle to beat back the resurgent Taliban.</div>
<div class="canvas-atom canvas-text Mb(1.0em) Mb(0)--sm Mt(0.8em)--sm" content="The surge helped Afghan security forces, backed by US air strikes, recapture Nawa district in Helmand six months ago." data-reactid="32" style="background-color: white; color: #26282a; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin-bottom: 1em;" type="text">
The surge helped Afghan security forces, backed by US air strikes, recapture Nawa district in Helmand six months ago.</div>
<div class="canvas-atom canvas-text Mb(1.0em) Mb(0)--sm Mt(0.8em)--sm" content="The operation came as Pentagon chief Jim Mattis finalised plans to present a new Afghanistan strategy to President Donald Trump in a bid to reverse what US generals call a "stalemate" at best." data-reactid="33" style="background-color: white; color: #26282a; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin-bottom: 1em;" type="text">
The operation came as Pentagon chief Jim Mattis finalised plans to present a new Afghanistan strategy to President Donald Trump in a bid to reverse what US generals call a "stalemate" at best.</div>
<div class="canvas-atom canvas-text Mb(1.0em) Mb(0)--sm Mt(0.8em)--sm" content="In February, a US airstrike in Sangin killed at least 18 civilians, mostly women and children." data-reactid="34" style="background-color: white; color: #26282a; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin-bottom: 1em;" type="text">
In February, a US airstrike in Sangin killed at least 18 civilians, mostly women and children.</div>
<div class="canvas-atom canvas-text Mb(1.0em) Mb(0)--sm Mt(0.8em)--sm" content="Last November 32 Afghan civilians were killed in a US airstrike in the northeastern province of Kunduz." data-reactid="35" style="background-color: white; color: #26282a; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin-bottom: 1em;" type="text">
Last November 32 Afghan civilians were killed in a US airstrike in the northeastern province of Kunduz.</div>
<div class="canvas-atom canvas-text Mb(1.0em) Mb(0)--sm Mt(0.8em)--sm" content="In October 2015, a US air strike hit a hospital run by Medecins Sans Frontieres, killing 42 people and sparking international outrage." data-reactid="36" style="background-color: white; color: #26282a; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin-bottom: 1em;" type="text">
In October 2015, a US air strike hit a hospital run by Medecins Sans Frontieres, killing 42 people and sparking international outrage.</div>

US strike kills 16 Afghan policemen in Helmand province

A US airstrike has killed 16 policemen in Afghanistan, officials said Saturday, the latest setback to Washington's efforts to bring...

+ Read more »