Karzai: US failed to consult Afghans on airstrike
Source: Associated Press
Karzai: US failed to consult Afghans on airstrike
AP foreign, Saturday June 9 2012
RAHIM FAIEZ
Associated Press= KABUL, Afghanistan (AP) Afghanistan's president said Saturday that the United States failed to consult Afghan forces when calling in an airstrike this week that killed 18 civilians, and warned that his government in the future will consider any such actions as violating the country's pact with Washington.
Presidential spokesman Aimal Faizi said that President Hamid Karzai met with investigators earlier in the day and concluded that U.S. troops had called in Wednesday's strike without coordinating with Afghan units.
The incident occurred during a nighttime raid on militants taking cover in a village. These raids are a major irritant in Afghan President Hamid Karzai's relationship with the international military coalition. Karzai says the raids put civilians at risk of injury or death. Military officials say such operations are key to capturing and killing Taliban leaders.
The U.S. and Afghanistan signed an agreement in April that put the Afghan government in charge of such operations a move designed to resolve some of the longstanding tensions.
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