Afghanistan's President Hamid Karzai says Afghan security forces will be banned from asking NATO forces to carry out airstrikes on residential areas.
In an address to officers at a military academy in Kabul, Karzai said he will issue a decree on Sunday stating that under no circumstances can Afghan forces request airstrikes on homes or villages.
His announcement was in apparent reference to a NATO airstrike that killed 10 people, including women and children, in Kunar province on Wednesday. Afghan forces requested the airstrike during a joint Afghan-U.S. operation targeting Taliban fighters in the region.
At least three Taliban militants with links to al-Qaida died in the raid.
Civilian casualties have been a major source of friction between Afghanistan and the U.S.-led international coalition during the 11-year war in the country. Mr. Karzai regularly condemns the killing of civilians.
In an address to officers at a military academy in Kabul, Karzai said he will issue a decree on Sunday stating that under no circumstances can Afghan forces request airstrikes on homes or villages.
His announcement was in apparent reference to a NATO airstrike that killed 10 people, including women and children, in Kunar province on Wednesday. Afghan forces requested the airstrike during a joint Afghan-U.S. operation targeting Taliban fighters in the region.
At least three Taliban militants with links to al-Qaida died in the raid.
Civilian casualties have been a major source of friction between Afghanistan and the U.S.-led international coalition during the 11-year war in the country. Mr. Karzai regularly condemns the killing of civilians.
