Us-run Bagram Airfield

The Afghan Taliban killed a Supreme Court official, a dozen mine clearers and several national and foreign soldiers but also suffered heavy losses from intensifying violence ahead of the withdrawal of most international troops in the next two weeks.

A civilian cargo plane crashed shortly after take-off at a huge US-run airfield in Afghanistan on Monday, officials said, adding that there was no reported insurgent activity in the area at the time.

The Afghan Taliban killed a Supreme Court official, a dozen mine clearers and several national and foreign soldiers but also suffered heavy losses from intensifying violence ahead of the withdrawal of most international troops in the next two weeks.

A civilian cargo plane crashed shortly after take-off at a huge US-run airfield in Afghanistan on Monday, officials said, adding that there was no reported insurgent activity in the area at the time.