NATO drone crashes in east Afghanistan

A pilotless plane of NATO-led International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) has crashed in Nangarhar province in east Afghanistan, spokesman for the provincial government said on Sunday. "An ISAF drone crashed in Naranj Bagh neighborhood in provincial capital Jalalabad city at around 9:00 p.m. local time on Saturday," Ahmad Zia Abdulzai told Xinhua. Abdulzai also said the incident caused no loss of life on the ground according to initial investigation. Meanwhile, purported Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid told local media via telephone from undisclosed location that the militants shot down the drone. However, ISAF press department in eastern region denied involvement of hostile fire, saying the plane have gone down due to technical problems. Taliban insurgents, whose regime was toppled in a U.S.-led incursion in late 2001, have intensified activities since the militant group announced to launch spring offensive against Afghan security forces and NATO-led troops stationed in Afghanistan on May 1.