Karzai to Ban Air Support for Afghan Troops

News - Afghanistan

Saturday, 16 February 2013 17:36 Last Updated on Saturday, 16 February 2013 18:13 Written by Sonil Haidari

President Hamid Karzai on Saturday said that Afghan security forces should no longer call on the US or Nato for air support during military operations following the reported deaths of 10 civilians in an airstrike intended to strike insurgents.

"Today I announce that no [Afghan] military institution under any conditions can call for foreign air support in the country," Karzai said in a speech at the National Military Academy in Kabul.

Emphasising his seriousness, Karzai added that a presidential decree will be issued in this regard in the near future.

At least 10 civilians of eastern Kunar province were reportedly killed in an airstrike conducted during a joint Afghan and Isaf military operation the early hours of Wednesday morning.

The raid, which took place in the Shigal district, was condemned by Karzai, who expressed his condolences to the families and said the Afghan authorities would further investigate.

Karzai summoned the newly-appointed top US and Isaf commander in Afghanistan, Gen. Joseph Dunford, to his presidential palace on Thursday to answer for the incident.

Isaf released a statement Thursday saying Dunford met with Karzai "to provide his insights into the Afghan and coalition forces partnered operation".

Dunford explained that "the coalition takes all allegations of civilian casualties seriously, and that we are conducting an assessment of the circumstances surrounding this incident. Gen. Dunford is committed to providing the results of that assessment to President Karzai once complete," the statement said.

The coalition will also meet with local village elders and "the families of those who may have been harmed during this operation in order to personally express our condolences", it added.

"We understand that protecting Afghan civilians is the cornerstone of our mission here in Afghanistan," Isaf said. "Gen. Dunford reaffirmed the coalition's commitment to taking every step possible to ensure that we conduct our operations in a way that further reduces the number of civilian casualties."

Source: http://tolonews.com/en/afghanistan/9460-karzai-to-ban-air-support-for-afghan-troops

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