June 24, 2007
NATO Regrets Civilian Killings,
Jirga Summoned to Protest
Kabul/Islamabad
The NATO-led forces have regretted the killing of at least nine
civilians during anti militant operation near Afghanistan Pakistan
border over the weekend, as tribal chiefs convened a grand 'jirga'
(assembly) Sunday to decide the future course of action.
NATO's International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) said in Kabul
that the follow-up investigations found civilian casualties were
among the dead.
"We have reports that one of our weapons hit a building which may
have had a number of civilians in it and that building may have been
a home or way-station or some hotel facility," ISAF spokesman said.
"We regret the loss of innocent life and our prayers are with the
families of those who died."
The spokesman, however, said that the strikes had been carried out
in coordination with the Pakistani military, which was also involved
in the investigation to find out how civilians were killed.
The ISAF had crossed the border "mistakenly", said the spokesman.
In Miranshah in north Waziristan on Pakistan Afghanistan border,
politicians called a grand jirga of Utmanzai Wazir tribesmen, which
is expected to take "some vital decisions regarding the raids and
actions" that had recently taken place on the borders.
Over 300 tribal chiefs, ulemas and councillors of Utmanzai tribesmen
are attending this jirga at the north Waziristan headquarters.
Meanwhile, the authorities in Pakistan put the figure of the
civilians killed at ten, causing the government to lodge "a strong
protest" with the US-led coalition forces in neighbouring
Afghanistan.
"Ten innocent people were reported killed when some mortars hit
civilians in Mangroti village in the Shawal region," military
spokesman Maj. Gen. Waheed Arshad said. Thirteen others were injured
in the fire.
However, locals put the death toll at 20 and said the dead included
a child, a woman and seven men, all from the same family.
"Pakistan has lodged a strong protest with coalition forces seeking
an explanation," Gen. Arshad told Daily Times from Rawalpindi,
adding the killing of civilians was not intentional.
He noted that such attacks that killed civilians could lessen
support for operations against militants.
Residents of the Shawal area of north Waziristan said fighting had
spilled over from Afghanistan late Friday and 20 people had been
killed. They said the dead were nomads. "We have recovered 20 bodies
including six members of a family," said Wali Mohammad Jhangikhel.
Meanwhile, according to a private TV channel, coalition fighter
planes pounded Angoor Ada in south Waziristan, destroying more than
15 houses Saturday.
Residents told BBC that a US gunship helicopter fired several
rockets on a small hotel on the night between Friday and Saturday at
about 3 a.m., killing at least 12 people and destroying the hotel,
houses and vehicles parked in nearby areas.
Coalition fighter planes pounded Angoor Ada in South Waziristan,
destroying more than 15 houses, a private TV channel reported.
People of the area told BBC that a US gunship helicopter fired
several rockets on a small hotel in the wee hours of Saturday,
killing 12 people and destroying the hotel, houses and vehicles
parked nearby.
Firing from the Afghan side by the US-led forces chasing fleeing
militants has become frequent as the 'Spring Offensive' to counter
the Taliban resurgence, aided by Pakistani tribals, continues.
Under US pressure, the Pakistan government has been trying to get
its tribals to dissociate themselves from the Afghan Taliban and
other foreign mercenaries they have been sheltering over the years.
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