The Militant (logo)  

Vol. 71/No. 27      July 9, 2007

 
Civilian deaths in Afghan war rise
 
BY SAM MANUEL  
WASHINGTON—The U.S. and NATO armies occupying Afghanistan have come under increasing criticism for killing civilians during military operations there. Even Afghan president Hamid Karzai, a loyal supporter of the U.S.-led invasion and occupation of the country, has said the foreign troops have been “careless.”

More than 100 civilians were killed in NATO operations the week of June 17. Afghan authorities said 25 people were killed in a NATO airstrike June 22 in a village in Helmand province. Seven children were killed in a religious compound during a June 18 U.S.-led airstrike in the eastern province of Paktika.

In response to the criticism, U.S. Brig. Gen. Joseph Votel, NATO’s deputy commander for operations in eastern Afghanistan, said existing procedures for avoiding civilian deaths are sufficient.

“We think the procedures that we have in place are good—they work,” Votel said. There are about 50,000 U.S. and NATO troops in Afghanistan, the majority of which are from the United States.

Pakistani officials said 10 civilians were killed in Pakistan’s North Waziristan region when NATO forces conducted strikes against a group of alleged Taliban attempting to cross the border.

Acbar, a coalition of Afghan and international relief agencies, cited 14 instances in which civilians had been killed for simply driving or walking too close to NATO troops. The total deaths, including combatants, according to the UN, have risen fourfold over the past two years, with 2,800 so far this year.
 
 
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Baathist militias aid U.S. occupation forces
Communist Party argues against demanding troops ‘Out Now’  
 
 
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