President apologizes to families of Kunduz airstrike victims

KABUL (Pajhwok): President Ashraf Ghani has apologized for civilian casualties in an Afghan forces airstrike in Dasht-i-Archi district of northern Kunduz province.

About two months back, Afghan Air Forces bombed a seminary in the district that left dozens of civilians dead and injured.

Referring to the deadliest incident, President Ghani met a number of elders, religious scholars and families of victims this afternoon.

Farid Ahmad Kakar, Mualvi Nasrullah Akhunzada, Sheikh Mumtaz Agha, Mohammad Zarif, Hameed Kakar, Haji Bismillah, Mualvi Abdul Basir, Muallah Akhtar Mohammad and Abdul Wudood talked on behalf of others.

They said they desired peace in their areas and had always slammed attacks on civilians, holy places and public institutions.

The elders presented information about the raid on the seminary, civilian’s casualties, including children, and urged prevention of such attacks in future and sought severe punishment for the perpetrators.

President Ghani recalled he directed his defense minister on the night of the attack to bring about brought accuracy in air forces and prevent such raids immediately.

Ghani added the Afghan government, especially the MoD apologized, to the families of victims. He ordered officials concerned to extend assistance to the affected families.

The president informed his government would also establish a comprehensive mosque for the martyrs.

Ghani remarked: “If Taliban think they are from this nation, they should come and participate in elections and renounce killing of countrymen and destroying the country.”

He said the war had some principles but Taliban observed none and event targetted mosques, people, women, children and public sites.

sa/ma