Karzai seeks end to NATO airstrikes on houses
Source: Agencies |
June 1, 2011, Wednesday
|
Print Edition
Print Edition
Angered by civilian casualties, Afghan President Hamid Karzai said yesterday he will no longer allow NATO airstrikes on houses, issuing his strongest statement yet against attacks that the military alliance says are vital to its war on Taliban insurgents.
NATO countered that airstrikes on houses are essential and will continue, setting up a possible confrontation with Karzai. The president's remarks followed a recent strike that mistakenly killed a group of children and women in southern Helmand province. Karzai declared it would be the last. "From this moment, airstrikes on the houses of people are not allowed," Karzai said in Kabul.
Ordering airstrikes is a command decision in Afghanistan. A NATO spokeswoman there, Major Sunset Belinsky, insisted they would continue. In Brussels, NATO spokeswoman Oana Lungescu insisted NATO airstrikes are still essential. She said the alliance takes Karzai's concerns very seriously and would continue to make every effort to avoid civilian casualties. She said airstrikes on houses are coordinated with Afghan forces and "they continue to be necessary."
"In many of these operations, Afghans are in the lead," she said. She would not comment specifically on the recent raid in Helmand province. If Karzai holds to what sounds like an order to international troops to abandon most airstrikes, it could bring the Afghan government into direct conflict with its international allies. Karzai's spokesman said the president plans to stand firm on this issue, regardless of the fallout with NATO.
"The president was very clear today about the fact that bombardments on Afghan homes and Afghan civilians are unacceptable and must be stopped. There is no room for back and forth on this," Waheed Omar said. "The president was clear in saying that any such strikes in the future will make the Afghan government react unilaterally."
It is unclear if Karzai has the power to order an end to such strikes. NATO and American forces are in Afghanistan under a United Nations mandate. US and Afghan negotiations over the presence of US forces have become contentious.
NATO countered that airstrikes on houses are essential and will continue, setting up a possible confrontation with Karzai. The president's remarks followed a recent strike that mistakenly killed a group of children and women in southern Helmand province. Karzai declared it would be the last. "From this moment, airstrikes on the houses of people are not allowed," Karzai said in Kabul.
Ordering airstrikes is a command decision in Afghanistan. A NATO spokeswoman there, Major Sunset Belinsky, insisted they would continue. In Brussels, NATO spokeswoman Oana Lungescu insisted NATO airstrikes are still essential. She said the alliance takes Karzai's concerns very seriously and would continue to make every effort to avoid civilian casualties. She said airstrikes on houses are coordinated with Afghan forces and "they continue to be necessary."
"In many of these operations, Afghans are in the lead," she said. She would not comment specifically on the recent raid in Helmand province. If Karzai holds to what sounds like an order to international troops to abandon most airstrikes, it could bring the Afghan government into direct conflict with its international allies. Karzai's spokesman said the president plans to stand firm on this issue, regardless of the fallout with NATO.
"The president was very clear today about the fact that bombardments on Afghan homes and Afghan civilians are unacceptable and must be stopped. There is no room for back and forth on this," Waheed Omar said. "The president was clear in saying that any such strikes in the future will make the Afghan government react unilaterally."
It is unclear if Karzai has the power to order an end to such strikes. NATO and American forces are in Afghanistan under a United Nations mandate. US and Afghan negotiations over the presence of US forces have become contentious.
- About Us
- |
- Terms of Use
- |
-
RSS - |
- Privacy Policy
- |
- Contact Us
- |
- Shanghai Call Center: 962288
- |
- Tip-off hotline: 52920043
- 沪ICP证：沪ICP备05050403号-1
- |
- 互联网新闻信息服务许可证：31120180004
- |
- 网络视听许可证：0909346
- |
- 广播电视节目制作许可证：沪字第354号
- |
- 增值电信业务经营许可证：沪B2-20120012
Copyright © 1999- Shanghai Daily. All rights reserved.Preferably viewed with Internet Explorer 8 or newer browsers.
