LASHKARGAH (Pajhwok): Civil society activists held a protest gathering in southern Helmand province on Sunday, demanding trial of those responsible for recent civilian deaths in airstrikes in Kunar and Helmand provinces.
The activists made the demand at a gathering in Lashkargah, the capital of southern Helmand province after dozens of civilians including women and children suffered casualties in airstrikes in Sangin district and Shltan district of Kunar province two days ago.
The protest gathering was attended by civil society activists and residents of Helmand.
Nazar Mohammad Rodi, head of Civil Society Association of Helmand, told the gathering that recent civilian deaths in airstrikes in Helmand and Kunar provinces were intolerable.
“We have always supported the government’s activities which benefit the public, but we cannot accept such operations,” he said.
Abdulhaq Zwakman, another member of the association, said that civilians were intentionally being targeted. He asked the government and the Taliban to pursue peace instead of war.
Sher Ahmad, a resident of Lashkargah, said no side could win the war. He also stressed that peace should be a priority.
Other participants of the gathering emphasized the perpetrators of recent airstrikes in Helmand and Kunar should be tried.
Helmand governor’s spokesman, Omar Zwak, told Pajhwok Afghan News that the government took such operations serious and always tried to prevent civilian losses during battles.
He said that a delegation had been appointed for investigation of recent incidents.
It was not the first time civilians were targeted in airstrikes, hundreds of innocent people had lost their lives to such incidents in the past.
mds/ma
