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| Afghanistan President Hamid Karzai [PHOTO: Office of the President} |
By RFE/RL
Kabul: Afghan President Hamid Karzai has summoned the commander of
NATO-led forces in his country to explain an air strike that Afghan officials
say killed 10 civilians.
Several Taliban fighters also reportedly died in the
February 13 air strike in eastern Kunar Province.
A statement from Karzai’s office quoted the president as saying
"such incidents must strictly be avoided in future."
The statement said U.S. General Joseph Dunford expressed
regret over the incident and pledged that NATO's International Security
Assistance Force will "avoid carrying out operations and bombings in residential
areas."
Dunford assumed command of NATO-led forces in Afghanistan on
February 10 and will oversee the withdrawal of U.S. combat forces through 2014.
Civilian casualties inflicted by NATO forces are a highly
sensitive issue and are regularly condemned by Karzai.
Copyright (c) 2013. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036.