Kabul, January 03: Afghan President Hamid Karzai has condemned US-led forces for unpopular tactics which result in civilian deaths, amid public anger across the country.
“We strongly request foreign forces in Afghanistan to stop irregular house searches and operations that are not coordinated (with Afghan forces), especially airstrikes,” Karzai said on Sunday during his surprise visit to the southern Helmand province.
Two deadly NATO operations within less than a week have put Karzai and the Afghans at odds with foreign troops.
The latest NATO attack in Helmand province on Thursday killed nine civilians as they had gathered for talks on water distribution.
In another attack in the eastern Kunar province over the weekend, US forces shot dead 10 unarmed civilians including eight school children after dragging them out of their homes.
Following the incident, Afghan protesters staged a demonstration against the killings by foreign troops in the eastern province of Kunar, chanting slogans against the US and its allies.
“We will pursue the issue of civilian casualties very seriously,” Karzai added as he was meeting tribal elders in the region.
A delegation is dispatched to the area to investigate the incident in Helmand.
——Agencies