Perpetrators of civilian casualties be punished: Senate

KABUL, with the upper house chairman saying those responsible should be identified and punished.

According to reports, 14 civilians were killed including four brothers in Jaghato district of Maidan Wardak province and more than 30 civilians were killed in Uruzgan province in recent airstrikes and raids conducted by Afghan and US forces.

Thirteen civilians were killed in a roadside bombing in Kandahar province on Tuesday. There were also reports about civilian losses in other parts of the country in similar incidents.

Rahmatullah Achakzai, a senator from Kandahar province, told the upper house’s today session that most of the airstrikes and night raids caused civilian casualties.

He said five night raids and airstrikes were conducted in Kandahar province over the last 10 days but only civilians were targeted and insurgents suffered on losses.

Amanullah Azami, another senator, also said the recent airstrike in Uruzgan province had caused huge civilian losses while insurgents stationed nearby escaped unhurt.

Baz Mohammad Zurmati, a Meshrano Jirga member, said civilians were killed by both Afghan forces and the Taliban. He asked the warring sides to be careful about civilian lives.

Abdullah Qarlaq, Meshrano Jirga secretary, said, “Civilian casualties caused by any side is crime, both sides should be seriously careful not to create further miseries for noncombatants.”

Meshrano Jirga chairman Fazal Hadi Muslimyar condemned attacks that caused civilian fatalities and asked the government and the rebels to avoid it.

“Those who inflict civilian losses on behalf of the Afghan government should be identified and punished based on military law,” he concluded.

mds/ma

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