ISLAMABAD, June 2: Hundreds of US troops launched an operation in the mountains of eastern Afghanistan early on Sunday to hunt down Al Qaeda and Taliban fighters, the Afghan Islamic Press (AIP) reported.

It said the operation had been mounted in Nangarhar province, across the Torkham crossing on the Pakistan-Afghanistan border.

The operation is focused on the mountainous terrain of Shamshad south of Torkham, the Pakistan-based private news service said.

US troops blocked all routes leading to Shamshad, and occupied the pedestrian trails from Pakistan to Afghanistan.

They also barricaded the popular Sasobi track which is used daily by thousands of Afghans to cross into Pakistan, it said.

The AIP said the US forces have taken up positions along the route, with cover from helicopters flying overhead.—AFP