Karzai condemns civilian casualties in Paktika drone strike

KABUL (Pajhwok): Former president Hamid Karzai on Saturday condemned the killing of civilians in a US drone strike in southern Paktika province.

At least 20 people were killed in one strike in Gomal district last week. Provincial council members and residents said all victims were civilians.

But the police chief claimed the people killed were militants.Karzai strongly condemned the US drone strikes and the killing of innocent civilians.

In a statement from his media office, the former president expressed his grave concern over the incident, which might lead to a backlash against foreign forces in Afghanistan.

pr/mds/mud