A Taliban stronghold town targeted by the current offensive in Afghanistan's Helmand province, Nad Ali, is showing signs of return of "normality", says NATO.

NATO officials faced the grim task of investigating the deaths of several civilians in a NATO airstrike directed against suspected insurgents in a neighboring province, as the 15,000-strong NATO-Afghan Operation Moshtarak (Togetherness) entered its 11thday on Tuesday.

Clearance operations, including the dangerous task of removing mines and roadside bombs in Nad Ali, were "firmly on track" in Helmand, despite limited small arms engagements, NATO's International Security Assistance Force said on its Web site.

The ISAF report said "Engineers continue upgrading roads in order to enable the effective delivery of stabilization supplies. Cautious optimism is growing in (Nad Ali) as early signs indicate a return to normality."

The report further said the forces face "determined resistance from small pockets of insurgents in Marja."

Quoting the Afghan government, CNN reported that the airstrike Sunday killed 27 civilians and wounded 14 others. That estimate was later accepted by the U. S military.

NATO airstrike were ordered by the commanders as they had specific intelligence that a group of Taliban fighters on a convoy of three vehicles was headed toward the coalition forces on ground, a U. S. military official told CNN.

Gen Stanley McChrystal, the top commander in Afghanistan, said," The ISAF said it is investigating the incident. Inadvertently killing or injuring civilians undermines the trust and confidence of Afghans in the NATO mission." (With Input from Agencies)