A Taliban leader and another insurgent were killed after they opened fire on Afghan and coalition troops during a night raid in the country's east, NATO has said, according to Belfast Telegraph.

But villager Abdul Malik Abdul Rahimzai said the soldiers who attacked a neighbour's house in Qarghayi district in the eastern province of Laghman killed "innocent people" who were unarmed.

Mohammad Aziz Khochi said two of his nephews were killed in the raid. He said one was a local council member and that they were not insurgents.

NATO said the Taliban leader had co-ordinated roadside bombings in the province. It said several insurgents were detained in the operation.

Under a recent U.S.-Afghan deal, night raids must now be led by Afghan forces.