Washington, Oct 24 : The US has reportedly welcomed the offensive launched by Pakistani security forces in the tribal areas in the recent weeks, saying that as a result of the move, fewer foreign fighters were now slipping into Afghanistan.

In a media briefing, US Defence Department spokesman Geoff Morrell welcomed “stepped-up operations” by the Pakistani military in Peshawar, and in Swat in particular, over the past two months.

“It is stepped up not just in terms of tempo, but in terms of effectiveness. As a result, we have seen some improvement in the flow of foreign fighters across the border into Afghanistan,” the Daily Times quoted Morrell as saying.

Kabul- Three soldiers in the US-led coalition were killed in a roadside bombing in western Afghanistan while dozens of militants were killed in clashes between Afghan and international forces elsewhere in the country, officials said Thursday.

The three soldiers were killed and another was wounded when their vehicle was struck by a roadside bomb blast Wednesday night, the US military said in a statement.

The statement did not disclose the nationalities of the victims, but most of the soldiers serving in the coalition are from the United States.

Washington, Oct 23: Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama has said that he would order a surge of US troops - perhaps 15,000 or more - to Afghanistan as soon as he reached the White House.

“We’re confronting an urgent crisis in Afghanistan. It’s time to heed the call ... for more troops. That’s why I’d send at least two or three additional brigades to Afghanistan,” said Obama, the Democratic contender and now clear front-runner to replace George W. Bush.

Kabul - Three soldiers of the US-led coalition were killed in a roadside bomb attack in western Afghanistan, while dozens of militants were killed in clashes between Afghan and international forces elsewhere in the country, officials said Thursday.

The three soldiers were killed and one other was wounded when their vehicle was struck by a roadside bomb blast in the western region on Wednesday night, the US military said in a statement.

The statement did not disclose the nationalities of the victims. Most of the soldiers serving under coalition command are from the US.

In another incident in the southern province of Uruzgan, Afghan and coalition forces battled with a group of Taliban militants in Deh Rawood district on Tuesday.

Islamabad, Oct 23 : Pakistan and Afghanistan have reportedly agreed on not holding talks with armed Taliban. Foreign ministers of the two countries announced this at a joint press conference last evening, saying that talks would be held “only with those who lay down arms”.

“Talks will be held with only those who are willing to lay down arms and those who live within the constitution,” the Daily Times quoted Afghan Foreign Minister Dr Rangin Dadfar Spanta as saying.

Pakistani Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi said other nations were coming around to Pakistan’s multi-pronged counterterrorism strategy that said “no talks with militants, but political dialogue with those who agree to live as peaceful citizens”.

Kabul - US-led coalition forces mistakenly bombed an Afghan national army position in Khost province early Wednesday and killed at least nine soldiers, while more than 40 militants and three police were killed elsewhere in the country, officials said.

The airstrike occurred in Sayedkhail district of the south-eastern province of Khost when a coalition convoy was returning from an operation, the US military said in a statement.

"Initial reports from troops on the ground indicate that this may be a case of mistaken identity on both sides," the statement said.