9 Afghan police killed in US friendly airstrike

PUL-I-ALAM (Pajhwok): A US forces’ airstrike mistakenly killed nine Afghan policemen and injured 15 others in the Azra district of central Logar province, the Ministry of Interior (MoI) said on Tuesday.

MoI deputy spokesman Nasrat Rahimi said the US forces had been asked for air support during an Afghan security forces’ operation in Azra district.

But the US forces mistakenly bombarded police check posts, killing nine and injuring 15 others.

NATO confirmed the airstrike that had been requested by Afghan forces. The alliance provided no information regarding causalities.

Earlier, Abdul Wali Wakeel, a member of the provincial council, told Pajhwok Afghan News that militants staged coordinated attacks from different directions on Azra district on Monday night.

The ensuing clashes left 35 security personnel and civilians dead, he said, adding, that at least 15 policemen had died in American forces’ airstrike on their check-posts.

He said the militants were closing in on the district centre amid fierce gun-battles in different parts of Azra that shares border with eastern Nangarhar province.

Meanwhile, Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid said the group was advancing on Azra district headquarters and claimed killing 19 local policemen and injuring six others.

On Monday, the residents and officials of Azra district told Pajhwok Afghan News the Taliban had laid siege to the district and asked the government to act immediately.

nh/ma