Tuesday, November 29, 2011 – Officials in Afghan presidential palace following a statement on Tuesday said, Gen. John Allen commander of the NATO-led International Security Assistance Force in Afghanistan has vowed to take necessary measures to prevent civilian casualties on military crackdown against the militant insurgents in the country.
The statement further added, Gen. John Allen NATO commander in Afghanistan following a letter to Afghan president Hamid Karzai emphasized on the safety of civilians as a priority of the NATO mission in Afghanistan.
This comes the local authorities in southern Kandahar province expressed concerns for the civilian casualties as a result of NATO raids in this province.
According to reports, at least 7 Afghan civilians including 6 children were killed following an air raid by NATO forces in Zherai district of southern Kandahar province.
On the other hand, the issue of civilians casualties is considered to be a key issue in heightening tensions between the Afghan government and the international counterparts of Afghanistan.
Afghan president Hamid Karzai while condemning civilian casualties as a result of NATO-led coalition forces operations insisted for further precision in carrying military operations specifically in conducting air raids.
In the meantime, officials in Afghan presidential palace said, NATO commander in Afghanistan Gen. John Allen has promised a reconsideration in military operations in Afghanistan and has vowed to present its outcomes before December 05, 2011.
According to Afghan presidential palace officials, NATO commander Gen. John Allen has expressed his condolences in civilians casualties as a result of a NATO air raid in Kandahar province a week earlier.
Gen. John Allen in his letter to president Hamid Karzai also said, all the International Security Assistance Force officials have been instructed to closely investigate civilian casualties and take necessary for preventing such incidents in the future.
