ISAF Questions Claims of Civilian Casualties, Calls for Joint Investigation of Kunar Incident

 

091204-F-9171L-213 A group of Afghan boys wait to receive clothing from U.S. Soldiers, while Afghan National Army soldiers provide security, Boragay Village, Zabul Province, Afghanistan, Dec. 4, 2009. (U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Efren Lopez /Released)

 

KABUL, Afghanistan (Dec. 30)

An initial review by a Government of Afghanistan delegation asserted that the dead were unarmed civilians removed by international forces from their homes and shot. While there is no direct evidence to substantiate these claims, ISAF has requested and welcomes an immediate joint investigation to reach an impartial and accurate determination of the events that occurred.

ISAF is a committed partner with the government and people of Afghanistan, and as such we embrace the responsibility to conduct our operations with the strictest degree of constraint to avoid civilian casualties. If we fail to meet this highest standard to which we subject ourselves, we will always look within to improve our capacity to avert unintended consequences in the future.

– On 26 December, a joint Coalition and Afghan Security Force entered the village of Ghazi Khan in the Narang district of Kunar Province, in order to locate a known insurgent group responsible for a series of violent attacks in the area. As the joint assault force entered the village, they came under fire from several buildings and in returning fire killed nine individuals. Several assault rifles, ammunition, and ammonium nitrate used in bomb-making were discovered.

 

 

From the Editor: WorldNewsVine

I wanted to post this article along with an image that would represent the “good” the ISAF is doing in Afghanistan. This photograph illustrates that persons in military roles, found amongst civilized societies, can find the compassion in their hearts to reach out and help as well as, defend.

Posted by Jim Alexander on December 31, 2009. Filed under International News,NATO ISAF,WorldNewsVine. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. Both comments and pings are currently closed.