Karzai: No airstrikes on homes
Source: Agencies |
June 13, 2012, Wednesday
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AFGHAN President Hamid Karzai took a defiant stand yesterday against NATO airstrikes, saying the military coalition can no longer fire on homes from aircraft under any circumstances - even in defense of Afghan and foreign forces.
Karzai said that's what he and the US-led coalition agreed to after last week's airstrike in eastern Afghanistan's Logar province that killed 18 civilians.
NATO's interpretation of the agreement is significantly different. The coalition says it agreed to restrict airstrikes against houses, but that it would still use air-delivered munitions against civilian dwellings in defense of troops on the ground.
The dispute highlights tension between the international force and Karzai, who has denounced coalition tactics that he says have caused civilian deaths on countless occasions.
Though airstrikes on homes are a small part of the international operations in Afghanistan, they have brewed resentment among Afghans , even when there are no casualties, who feel they violate what ought to be safe areas and put civilians at risk.
"An agreement has been reached clearly with NATO that no bombardment of civilian homes for any reason is allowed," Karzai said at a news conference at the presidential palace in Kabul. "This is an absolute disproportionate use of force."
"Even when they are under attack, they cannot use an airplane to bomb Afghan homes - even when they are under attack," he said to underscore his point.
Karzai said that at a meeting after the incident in Logar province, he asked US Marine Gen. John Allen, the top commander of US and NATO forces in Afghanistan: "Do you do this in the United States? There is police action every day in the United States. ... They don't call in airplanes to bomb the place."
On other issues, Karzai highlighted the international community's commitment to keep supporting Afghanistan even after foreign forces wind up their combat mission at the end of 2014. He noted upcoming conferences where nations from across the region and the world are expected to pledge their cooperation and financial support to strengthen the Afghan security forces, improve governance and continue development.
At next month's pledging conference in Tokyo, donor nations are in turn expected to press Karzai to do more to battle corruption and build a transparent government.
Karzai said even if he makes another visit to the United States, he will not ask for any other US assistance.
Karzai said that's what he and the US-led coalition agreed to after last week's airstrike in eastern Afghanistan's Logar province that killed 18 civilians.
NATO's interpretation of the agreement is significantly different. The coalition says it agreed to restrict airstrikes against houses, but that it would still use air-delivered munitions against civilian dwellings in defense of troops on the ground.
The dispute highlights tension between the international force and Karzai, who has denounced coalition tactics that he says have caused civilian deaths on countless occasions.
Though airstrikes on homes are a small part of the international operations in Afghanistan, they have brewed resentment among Afghans , even when there are no casualties, who feel they violate what ought to be safe areas and put civilians at risk.
"An agreement has been reached clearly with NATO that no bombardment of civilian homes for any reason is allowed," Karzai said at a news conference at the presidential palace in Kabul. "This is an absolute disproportionate use of force."
"Even when they are under attack, they cannot use an airplane to bomb Afghan homes - even when they are under attack," he said to underscore his point.
Karzai said that at a meeting after the incident in Logar province, he asked US Marine Gen. John Allen, the top commander of US and NATO forces in Afghanistan: "Do you do this in the United States? There is police action every day in the United States. ... They don't call in airplanes to bomb the place."
On other issues, Karzai highlighted the international community's commitment to keep supporting Afghanistan even after foreign forces wind up their combat mission at the end of 2014. He noted upcoming conferences where nations from across the region and the world are expected to pledge their cooperation and financial support to strengthen the Afghan security forces, improve governance and continue development.
At next month's pledging conference in Tokyo, donor nations are in turn expected to press Karzai to do more to battle corruption and build a transparent government.
Karzai said even if he makes another visit to the United States, he will not ask for any other US assistance.
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