<p>An airstrike in northeastern Afghanistan has killed 11 children and a prayer leader as they studied in a mosque, local authorities said Thursday, though the national government disputed the account.</p>.<p>The strike in a village in Takhar province came Wednesday after suspected Taliban fighters targeted Afghan security forces in the area.</p>.<p>According to provincial police spokesman Khalil Aseer, an airstrike that came during the fighting hit a mosque, killing 12 people including 11 youngsters.</p>.<p>"The airstrike was carried out when the victims were busy studying the Holy Koran," Aseer said, adding a prayer leader was among the dead. He did not give the ages of any of those killed.</p>.<p>Fourteen other people, including children, were wounded in the strike, Aseer said. Takhar provincial governor spokesman Mohammad Jawad Hejri confirmed the incident.</p>.<p>It was not clear who conducted the airstrike. The US military referred a query to the Afghan defence ministry, which did not immediately comment.</p>.<p>The Afghan military has a fledgeling air force and small attack planes capable of conducting close-air support for troops on the ground.</p>.<p>Vice President Amrullah Saleh said no minors had been killed at the mosque.</p>.<p>"The news of children killed in a mosque in Takhar is baseless," he wrote on Facebook.</p>.<p>"We have undeniable evidence that those who killed our security forces ... were killed. Those who spread rumours will be dealt with legally."</p>.<p>Heavy fighting with the Taliban in Takhar since Tuesday has left at least 25 security personnel dead.</p>.<p>Despite joining peace talks with the Afghan government in Qatar last month, the Taliban have only increased violence in a bid to wield leverage in the negotiations.</p>.<p>The top US envoy to Afghanistan, Zalmay Khalilzad, said earlier this week that fighting is threatening the peace process.</p>
<p>An airstrike in northeastern Afghanistan has killed 11 children and a prayer leader as they studied in a mosque, local authorities said Thursday, though the national government disputed the account.</p>.<p>The strike in a village in Takhar province came Wednesday after suspected Taliban fighters targeted Afghan security forces in the area.</p>.<p>According to provincial police spokesman Khalil Aseer, an airstrike that came during the fighting hit a mosque, killing 12 people including 11 youngsters.</p>.<p>"The airstrike was carried out when the victims were busy studying the Holy Koran," Aseer said, adding a prayer leader was among the dead. He did not give the ages of any of those killed.</p>.<p>Fourteen other people, including children, were wounded in the strike, Aseer said. Takhar provincial governor spokesman Mohammad Jawad Hejri confirmed the incident.</p>.<p>It was not clear who conducted the airstrike. The US military referred a query to the Afghan defence ministry, which did not immediately comment.</p>.<p>The Afghan military has a fledgeling air force and small attack planes capable of conducting close-air support for troops on the ground.</p>.<p>Vice President Amrullah Saleh said no minors had been killed at the mosque.</p>.<p>"The news of children killed in a mosque in Takhar is baseless," he wrote on Facebook.</p>.<p>"We have undeniable evidence that those who killed our security forces ... were killed. Those who spread rumours will be dealt with legally."</p>.<p>Heavy fighting with the Taliban in Takhar since Tuesday has left at least 25 security personnel dead.</p>.<p>Despite joining peace talks with the Afghan government in Qatar last month, the Taliban have only increased violence in a bid to wield leverage in the negotiations.</p>.<p>The top US envoy to Afghanistan, Zalmay Khalilzad, said earlier this week that fighting is threatening the peace process.</p>