Afghan President on Monday said 10 civilians, including eight students, had been killed in fighting involving international forces in the country’s remote east. He condemned the deaths and called for an investigation.
Civilian deaths are one of the most sensitive issues for the international military forces in Afghanistan. Although United Nations figures show far more civilians are killed by the Taliban, deaths at the hands of foreigners spark wide resentment and undermine international forces’ attempts to weaken the Taliban by building trust among the peaceful population.
Karzai’s brief statement said the deaths occurred Sunday in the Narang district of Kunar province. It did not give further details and other reports have been sketchy.
The provincial police chief, Gen. Khalilullah Zaiyi, told The Associated Press earlier Monday that as many as 10 militants had been killed in the district on Sunday and that investigators had been sent to the remote area to check reports that civilians were among those killed.
NATO’s International Security Assistance Force said it had no immediate information on the reported fighting or on Karzai’s statement.
Also Monday, NATO said Afghan and international forces were fighting in the country’s northwest after coming under attack while attempting to secure Afghan security forces’ outposts.
About 60 militants attacked the Afghan and international soldiers with rocket-propelled grenades and small-arms fire from several locations near the Bala Murgahb district of Badghis province, which borders Iran, NATO said.
[adrotate group=”4″]
