Helicopters-borne forces kill 12 Laghman villagers

JALALABAD (Pajhwok): Helicopters-borne Afghan security forces allegedly killed at least 12 civilians and wounded four others during an operation in Badpakh district of eastern Laghman province, residents said Thursday.

Local officails confirmed the operation in the district, but they were unaware as to which forces carried out the last night operation.

Malak Mahbob Shah, a tribal elder in Badpakh district, told Pajhwok Afghan News that unknown helicopter-borne Afghan forces raided homes in Karoch village around 12am last night.

The security forces took civilians out of their homes and then shot them to death, the elder said.

 “An elderly man who was 90 years old is among the dead, teenagers were also killed and three drivers who supplied logistricst to Afghan Natioanl Army (ANA) were also killed,” he said.

He said 12 people in total were killed and four others wounded in the incident.

Sayed Sharif Pacha, Badpakh district chief, confirmed Afghan forces used helicopters in the operation in the village and inflicted casualties on civilians.

But he said it was unclear which forces launched the operation because neither the Afghan special forces nor the Afghan commandos had informed them prior to the operation.

 “Last night, the company commander received a call from a local resident who said some helicopeters have landed in their village and he fears they are attacked, but the commander assured them that they are safe, but we in the morning we got to know that the caller himself was also killed,” he said.

Laghman governor’s spokesman, Sarhadi Zwak, also said they did not receive information perior or after the operation and they were unaware who conducted the raid.

He said the local administration had appointed a delegation for investigating the incident.

A security officials in Kabul) forces and Special Forces.

mds/ma