WASHINGTON, March 23 (Xinhua) -- U.S. Department of Defense on Saturday announced the deaths of two soldiers, who were supporting Operation Freedom's Sentinel in Afghanistan to counter terrorism.

The two soldiers, namely Spc. Joseph P. Collette and Sgt. 1st Class Will D. Lindsay, died Friday in the northern province of Kunduz "as a result of wounds sustained while engaged in combat operations," Pentagon said in a statement.

The incident is under investigation, it added.

U.S. Special Representative for Afghanistan Reconciliation Zalmay Khalilzad said on March 13 that the peace talks between the United States and the Afghan Taliban have made progress after tough negotiations in Qatar and that conditions for achieving a peaceful settlement have improved.

However, it remains unclear if Taliban would be committed to the complete ceasefire and direct talks with the Afghan government.

Fighting between government forces and Taliban fighters often gets intense in spring as it is locally branded as the fighting season.