6 including 4 children killed in Ghazni airstrike

GHAZNI CITY (Pajhwok): At least six civilians have been killed including four children and two others wounded in an airstrike in Khwaja Omari district of southern Ghazni province, residents and an official said Sunday.

A large number of the area residents brought the dead bodies to Ghazni City, the provincial capital and placed them in front of the governor’s house in protest.

Ruhullah, one of the protestors, told Pajhwok Afghan News that the airstrikes took place in Haaji area of the district at around 7pm Saturday night.

He said six civilians were killed including four children and another two were wounded in the airstrike.

Shafiullah, a family member of the victims, said all the victims were civilians and had no link with Taliban militants in the area.

He said the victims wounded were busy working at a garden when they came under attack.

A number of other residents held similar views and sought justice for the victims.

Hamidullah Sarwari, the provincial council deputy head, confirmed the incident and urged the government to protect civilian lives.

Governor Waheedullah Kalimzai told Pajhwok that a number of civilians had been killed and wounded in the Saturday’s airstrike in Khwaj Omari district.

He said security forces targeted Taliban militants in the area and the airstrike killed five militants and some civilians.

He said a delegation had been dispatched to the area to investigate the incident.

pk/ma