Kabul, February 08: non-UN-sanctioned US strike has killed an Afghan child in Nad Ali district in the southern province of Helmand, a NATO statement says.
“The child was accidentally killed by fragmentation of an air weapons team strike during an operation in Nad Ali district,” dpa quoted the statement as saying.
According to the statement, International Security Forces in Afghanistan (ISAF) service members discovered the dead child in a compound near the target.
“This is a deeply regrettable accident,” said Patrick Hynes, a senior ISAF official.
The operation took place in the highly volatile province of Helmand, a Taliban stronghold, where US and NATO forces have conducted aggressive operations to “disrupt and destroy” the militants’ hideouts.
Locals report heavy casualties and property losses, especially in areas where US and NATO troops have conducted their operations, causing widespread anger and grievances against the foreign troops.
Last week, the Afghanistan Rights Monitor, reported that at least 2,421 civilians were killed and 3,270 injured in 2010.
The Kabul-based independent human rights organization blamed US and NATO forces for 512 of the deaths.
——–Agencies