US service member killed in Afghanistan
Smog blankets Pakistan, India
KABUL, Nov 5, (Agencies): A US service member was killed in eastern Afghanistan on Saturday, the military said, without giving details of his identity or the circumstances of his death, which occurred as American forces have stepped up operations against the Taleban. A statement from US Forces Afghanistan Command in Kabul said the service member had died of wounds sustained during operations in Logar, the eastern province where another service member was killed last week after a helicopter crash.
“Despite this tragic event, we remain steadfast in our commitment to the Afghan people and to support them in our mutual fight against terrorism,” Gen John Nicholson, the top US commander in Afghanistan said in the statement. The latest death comes after President Donald Trump ordered a boost in the number of US troops assisting Afghan forces against the Taleban as part of a new strategy to try to break the stalemate with the insurgents. Although most US troops are not in combat, the new strategy will give them greater authority to engage the Taleban and will involve some acting as advisers at brigade and battalion level, bringing them much closer to the front line.
Up to Aug 23, 10 US service members had been killed in Afghanistan this year, according to figures published last week by the Congressional watchdog SIGAR, more than double the number killed in the same periods in 2015 and 2016.
Smog blankets Pakistan, India:
Smog has enveloped much of Pakistan and neighboring India, causing highway accidents and respiratory problems, and forcing many residents to stay home, officials said Saturday.
Pakistani meteorologist Mohammad Hanif said the pollution, caused by dust, the burning of crops, and emissions from factories and brick kilns in Pakistan and neighboring India, was expected to linger until the middle of the month. He advised people to wear face masks to protect themselves from respiratory ailments.
Mohammad Arshad, a highway police official, said at least 10 people were killed and 25 injured in road accidents linked to poor visibility in various parts of the Punjab province since Monday. Authorities have advised people to limit road travel.