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US Military Says Attacks on the Rise in Eastern Afghanistan


A top US military commander says attacks in eastern Afghanistan have increased by nearly 40-percent since last year.

Major General Jeffrey Schloesser told reporters at the Pentagon today (Tuesday) attacks by Taliban militants and other insurgents have also become increasingly complex and sophisticated.

Schloesser says militants have been targeting sites such as schools to disrupt economic development.

Separately, Afghan officials say a U.S.-led coalition airstrike has killed 15 militants who attacked a government building in eastern Afghanistan.

NATO forces bombed the militants on Tuesday as they were withdrawing from an attack at government headquarters in Paktia province. Officials say most of the militants killed were foreigners.

NATO officials also said a mine blast today killed one soldier and wounded three others in Khogyani district of Nangarhar province.


And Britain's defense ministry says a British soldier with the Parachute Regiment was killed during fighting on Tuesday in the Upper Sangin Valley of southern Helmand province.

Also today, the Afghan government said a "foreign intelligence agency" was responsible for an April assassination attempt on President Hamid Karzai.

Afghan presidential spokesman Humayum Hamidzada said the investigation into the attack is continuing. He did not name a specific country or agency.

He also said Pakistan must stop militants from crossing the border to attack targets in Afghanistan, otherwise Kabul would "take action to defend the country and people."

Mr. Karzai survived the attack at a military parade in Kabul with no injuries. Three people died in the attack.

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