In Afghanistan, at least 52 people were killed in two separate NATO-led air strikes targeting Taliban insurgents. At least 14 people were killed and six others wounded in a NATO air strike in southern province of Helmand yesterday.Spokesman for the provincial governor Daud Ahmadi said the foreign forces called for air support and NATO aircraft bombed two civilian homes, leading to deaths of five girls, seven boys and two women. The spokesman said three children, a woman and two men were injured in the bombardment. A spokesman for the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) said they are investigating the incident.In another incident, 18 civilians and 20 local police forces were killed in Nuristan province on Wednesday when NATO forces targeted the insurgents who were trying to run over a district. Provincial governor Jamaluddin Badr said the firefight and air strikes also left at least 85 Taliban fighters dead and dozens others injured.Civilian casualties in military operations are a highly sensitive issue in Afghanistan and President Hamid Karzai has repeatedly called on foreign forces to do more to prevent them. Mr. Karzai yesterday ordered the Defence Ministry to prevent foreign troops from uncoordinated operations and to take control of all night raids.