One solider from the US-led coalition and seven insurgents have been killed in two separate clashes in Afghanistan, the coalition said today, in the latest spate of violence in the country.
Afghanistan is going through its bloodiest phase of violence since the ouster of the Taliban government in 2001, with most attacks occurring in the south where NATO will assume security responsibilities next week.
Both incidents occurred yesterday, one in the southeastern province of Paktika and the other in eastern Kunar.
Seven insurgents were killed in the Paktika clash after militants attacked a patrol with small arms and rocket propelled grenades, a forces statement said. A coalition soldier suffered minor shrapnel wounds.
In Kunar, the coalition soldier was killed by militants during a coalition ground operation, backed by aircraft fire.
The statement did not identify the soldier's nationality and did not say if there were any casualties among the militants.
More than 1,700 people have been killed since the start of the year in attacks by Taliban guerrillas and coalition operations.
Most of the victims have been militants, according to Afghan and foreign commanders, but the death toll also includes scores of civilians, dozens of aid workers, Afghan forces and over 70 foreign troops.
The Taliban have vowed to drive out foreign forces from Afghanistan and topple President Hamid Karzai's government.
The rise in violence comes as NATO-led peacekeepers prepare to take charge of security from the coalition in six southern provinces, the main stronghold of the militants. The change in command will see NATO oversee all security except in the east.
Separately, Younus Khalis, leader of a pro-Taliban faction, has died, the Pakistan based Afghan Islamic Press quoted a statement signed by Khalis' son as saying.
Khalis, who was in his late 70's, went into hiding in late 2003 when he announced a holy war against foreign forces in Afghanistan. His loyalists are active in some parts of southeastern Afghanistan.