BAGRAM AIR BASE, Aug 9: US troops returned fire on Saturday after militants fired six rockets at their base in southeastern Afghanistan, but there were no casualties or damage, a military spokesman said.

Six rockets landed near the Shkin fire base, Paktika province, US Colonel Rodney Davis told reporters at Bagram air base, some 50kms north of Kabul.

“The coalition forces responded with counter fire to suppress hostilities,” he said, adding that an investigation was underway to find the attackers.

Another US military spokesman earlier this week said the Taliban had been paying or threatening locals to carry out attacks on coalition troops.

Like other bases along the border with Pakistan, Shkin base, located 220 kilometres south of Kabul, has come under regular attack by guerilla fighters.

WEAPONS CACHE: The US-led forces on Friday recovered and destroyed a weapons cache near Bagram air base.

The cache included 11 rockets and 50 artillery and mortar rounds. —AFP