KABUL, Afghanistan - An avalanche in northern Afghanistan has killed 10 people in a mountain pass.

Local police say the avalanche crushed three vehicles as they travelled up the Salang Pass on Friday.

In Afghanistan's southern province of Helmand, meanwhile, a British soldier has been killed in a clash with Taliban insurgents.

Britain's Defence Ministry says the soldier was killed Saturday while on a foot patrol.

Southern Afghanistan is the centre of the Taliban insurgency.

The U.S. is planning to send an additional 20,000 troops to the region to help British, Canadian and Dutch soldiers battle the growing militant threat there.