Two US soldiers killed in Afghanistan operation

KABUL – Two US service members have been killed while serving in Afghanistan, Nato said in a statement Friday.

The NATO’s Resolute Support mission in a statement has confirmed killings of two US service members but not disclosed the area of the operation. Reports in American media suggest the operation was carried out in Kunduz Province in northern Afghanistan.

Officials told CNN that initial indications are that they were killed during a fight with the Taliban. Afghan troops were also killed in the incident.

The names of the victims will be withheld until 24 hours after their families have been notified.

The deaths bring the number of US service members killed in Afghanistan this year to four.

It comes amid negotiations between the US and Taliban insurgents to end the 17-year conflict in Afghanistan.

More civilians were killed last year in Afghanistan than at any time since records have been kept, with 3,804 civilians losing their lives.

President Trump is reportedly considering withdrawing half of the 14,000 American troops currently stationed in Afghanistan, with the primary duty of training, assisting advising the Afghan forces.

While US officials have said the peace talks with the Taliban have made progress, they have yet to finalize any agreements and intense fighting between the government and the insurgency continues.

The lead US negotiator, Ambassador Zalmay Khalilzad, is currently hosting his counterparts from Russia, China, and the European Union in Washington to discuss the nascent peace talks, according to the State Department.