By Xinhua,
Kabul : Two Dutch soldiers with the NATO-led International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) were killed and two others wounded Friday when the NATO convoy hit a roadside mine planted by Taliban insurgents in southern Afghan province of Uruzgan, officials said.
Juma Gul Humat, the provincial police chief, told Xinhua that the incident occurred at around 10 a.m. (0530 GMT) when a NATO convoy was patrolling in Trin Kot district of Uruzgan province and hit a mine planted by Taliban militants in advance.
“Two Dutch soldiers were killed,” Humat said.
Maj. Vande Watering, spokesman of ISAF south regional headquarters based in Kandahar province, confirmed the incident, adding two soldiers were killed and two others were wounded.
Meanwhile, Qari Yusuf Ahmadi, the purported Taliban spokesman told Xinhua via phone from an unknown hideout, that the outfits took responsibility for the roadside attack which caused great casualties on NATO troops.
Conflicts and Taliban-related violence have left over 420 people dead so far this year in war-torn Afghanistan, where Taliban militants recently have vowed to launch the “Spring offensive” to intensify their guerrilla-style attacks on national army and foreign troops.