The Afghan Defence Ministry, however, said the airstrikes killed 30 Taliban fighters, but added an investigation was being made into claims that civilians were among those killed.

Historic negotiations between the Taliban and Afghanistan's political leadership opened in Qatar on Saturday, offering the best chance of peace after decades of war.

Pompeo made his comments en route to the Middle Eastern State of Qatar, where intra-Afghan negotiations are to begin Saturday.

The Taliban denied involvement in the attack, which comes just ahead of long-awaited peace talks between the Afghan government and the Taliban in Qatar's capital Doha.

The delayed negotiations are the second, critical part to a peace deal the U.S. signed with the Taliban in February in Doha.

Afghanistan’s president has appointed a council for national reconciliation, which will have final say on whether the government will sign a peace deal with the Taliban after what are expected to be protracted and uncertain negotiations with the insurgents.

A senior Canadian government official, speaking on background, called the comments "disappointing."

White House adviser Peter Navarro’s comments about Canada and Afghanistan were grossly uninformed and disrespectful and were not really about the Canadian military.

A Taliban spokesman told The Associated Press there have been at least 11 such attacks in the past several months — instances when freed Taliban figures were killed, harassed and re-arrested by government forces.

The move looks to bring the United States a little closer to bringing home its troops and ending its longest military engagement.