Afghan army general dies in helicopter crash

Kabul: An Afghan army general has been killed and several army personnel wounded after a helicopter crashed in western Badghis province, sources said.

"Brigadier General Muhayuddin Ghori, commander of Afghan National Army`s 207th Zafar Corps based in western Herat province, was killed after an ANA chopper crashed in Mori Chaq late Tuesday," Xinhua news reported quoting a military official on anonymity, on Wednesday.

The Badghis region has witnessed heavy clashes between security forces and Taliban militants over the past couple of months.

The crash was caused by a technical failure in the aircraft, any insurgent involvement was ruled out.

An official statement on the incident is, however, still awaited.

The Afghan security forces` casualties have risen recently as they struggle against a surge in attacks by Taliban militant group and other anti-government fighters.