Afghan forces have used ground attacks and air strikes in multiple operations against the Taliban over a 24-hour period, killing 51 fighters in an escalation that signals renewed deadlock in peace talks.

At least 17 Afghan police were killed in an air strike during a clash with the Taliban, an official said on Friday, in the latest incident of potential friendly fire in the conflict.

A new United Nations report said that Afghan and U.S. forces killed more civilians in Afghanistan than the Taliban and other insurgents did in the first quarter of 2019.

President Donald Trump has revoked a policy requiring U.S. intelligence officials to report civilian deaths in drone strikes outside of war zones.

Former President, Hamid Karzai condemned an airstrike launched on civilian areas in Helmand that caused civilian deaths and injuries as a “cruel act”.