The US launched an airstrike against Taliban fighters to defend Afghan forces on

Wednesday, an American military spokesman said, as violence spirals after a string

of deadly attacks by the insurgents, throwing the country's nascent peace process
into grave doubt.

News of the airstrike in southern Helmand province � the first in 11 days � came
hours after US President Donald Trump told reporters he had had a "very good" chat
with the Taliban political chief, who on Saturday signed a historic deal with
Washington to withdraw foreign forces.

Since the signing in Doha however, the militants have ramped up violence against
Afghan forces, ending a partial weeklong truce that provided a rare reprieve to
war-weary residents.

US Forces-Afghanistan spokesman Sonny Leggett tweeted that the airstrike took place
against Taliban fighters who were "actively attacking" an Afghan forces checkpoint
in Helmand province.

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"This was a defensive strike to disrupt the attack," he tweeted.

"We call on the Taliban to stop needless attacks and uphold their commitments. As
we have demonstrated, we will defend our partners when required."

He said insurgents had carried out 43 attacks on checkpoints in Helmand on Tuesday

alone.

The insurgents killed at least 20 Afghan soldiers and policemen in a series of

overnight attacks, government officials told AFP on Wednesday, casting a pall over
peace talks between Kabul and the Taliban, due to begin on March 10.

"Taliban fighters attacked at least three army outposts in Imam Sahib district of
Kunduz last night, killing at least 10 soldiers and four police," said Safiullah
Amiri, a member of the provincial council.

A defence ministry official speaking to AFP on condition of anonymity confirmed the

army toll, while the provincial police spokesman Hejratullah Akbari confirmed the
police fatalities.

The insurgents also attacked police in central Uruzgan province Tuesday night, with
the governor's spokesman Zergai Ebadi telling AFP: "Unfortunately, six police were
killed and seven wounded".

The news of the attacks came after Trump told reporters in Washington on Tuesday
that he had a "very good" relationship with Taliban political chief Mullah Baradar,
with the pair speaking on the phone for 35 minutes, according to the insurgents.

"The relationship is very good that I have with the mullah. We had a good long
conversation today and you know, they want to cease the violence, they'd like to
cease violence also," he said.

But on Wednesday, US military spokesman Leggett warned that the "Afghans and US
have complied with our agreements; however, Talibs appear intent on squandering
this (opportunity) and ignoring the will of the people for peace".

'Common interest'
Trump has touted the Doha deal as a way to end the bloody, 18-year US military
presence in Afghanistan � right in time for his November re-election bid.
Under the terms of the deal, US and other foreign forces will quit Afghanistan
within 14 months, subject to Taliban security guarantees and a pledge by the
insurgents to hold talks with the national government in Kabul.

The agreement also includes a commitment to exchange 5,000 Taliban prisoners held
by the Afghan government in return for 1,000 captives � something the militants
have cited as a prerequisite for talks but which President Ashraf Ghani has refused
to do before negotiations start.

Trump has said the Taliban and Washington both "have a very common interest" in
ending the war.

Since Saturday's deal signing, the Taliban have been publicly claiming "victory"
over the US and on Monday they announced they would resume attacks on Afghan
national forces.

Ghani's government last week sent a delegation to Qatar to open "initial contacts"
with the insurgents, but Taliban spokesman Suhail Shaheen on Tuesday said the
militants would not meet Kabul's representatives except to discuss the release of
their captives.

Apparent differences between the Doha agreement and a separate joint US-Afghan
declaration made in Afghanistan underline the obstacles facing negotiators.

The US-Taliban deal committed to the release of prisoners, while the Kabul document
only required both sides to determine "the feasibility of releasing" captives.