Ghani seeks explanation on civilian casualties

KABUL (Pajhwok): President Ashraf Ghani on Wednesday asked security officials to provide an explanation for civilian casualties.

In a series of tweets, Ghani wrote: “I have ordered ANDSF to either abort or to wait-out a potential target even if a single civilian is present.

He said the security and defense force were committed to the rules of war and engagement and they only provided proportionate response to enemy attacks.

“I have summoned leaders of the ANDSF not only to provide explanation about previous investigations, but also to deliberate about avoiding civilians losses in future and to ultimately reduce and end the level of such unfortunate incidents,” he wrote.

Reports about civilian casualties surfacing over the past few days had been earnestly followed up, Ghani said, calling such casualties unacceptable to the government and the leaderships of ANDSF.

“As president of a responsible state, I must say that civilian casualties are the most tragic event in times of war. It pains me as much as any other Afghan when I hear about harm to civilians.”

sa/mud

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