In Afghanistan, 38 soldiers onboard a NATO helicopter were killed in Maidan Wardak province during a military operation early this morning. The International Joint Command in its press release issued in Kabul today has confirmed the incident but did not specify the number of casualties. Media reports say 31 NATO troops and 7 Afghan soldiers were killed in the incident involving the US Chinook helicopter. However, theTaliban have claimed responsibility for the incident. Our Correspondent has filed this report: