Taliban Claims Death Of US Soldier As Peace Talks Restart

An American service member has been killed in Afghanistan, US officials have confirmed.

The Taliban has claimed it was behind a roadside bombing that killed the US soldier.

The most recent death of a US soldier, who is yet to be publicly identified, brings the number of American lives lost in Afghanistan to 20 in 2019.

More than 2,400 Americans have died since the 18-year conflict began.

The attack took place just as re-started peace talks between the Taliban and the United States had got underway in Doha.

US President Donald Trump announced last month that talks had restarted, having abruptly called them off in September.

Washington's peace envoy Zalmay Khalilzad has been tasked with striking an agreement to include a promise from the Taliban that Afghanistan would not use as a base by any terrorist group.

The Taliban said the American soldier was killed in the Chardara district in northern Kunduz province where US and Afghan forces were carrying out a joint raid.

A spokesman for the militant group said the insurgents had planted the roadside bomb that killed the service member.

A statement from US Forces-Afghanistan read: "In accordance with US Department of Defense policy, the name of the service member killed in action is being withheld until 24 hours after notification of next of kin is complete."

Cover image: Mountains near Bagram Airfield in Afghanistan (Picture: US Army).