US forces apologise for civilian deaths in Kunduz

KUNDUZ CITY (Pajhwok): US forces have apologised for an airstrike that killed five members of a family in northeastern Kunduz province.

The airstrike was carried out in Dasht-i-Archi district on January 30. The victims belonged to the Mamakhel area of Chahar Dara district.

Habib Rahman Hekmatyar, son of Gulbadin Hekmatyar, says those killed in the airstrike were his uncles.

A statement from the governor’s house said US Special Operations’ commander Maj. Gen. Donahue travelled to Kunduz and met 217^th Pamir Military Corps officials.

Investigations showed the dead were civilians, the US general was quoted as saying. He added American troops apologised to the family of the victims.

Donahue expressed his sorrows over the incident and said investigations into the raid were still underway, according to the statement.

He said local military and civilian officials were not involved in the incident and only foreign forces were responsible for the strike.

Donahue assured no such incidents would happen in the future as protection of civilian lives was important to them.

Meanwhile, Governor Abdul Jabbar Naeemi said protecting civilians should be a top priority in military operations.

Ghulam Mohiuddin, a relative of the victims who attended the meeting, praised the local administration for sharing the issue with the central government and foreign forces.

“Operations that cause civilian casualties should be stopped forthwith because targeting civilians is a war crime,” he said.

mds/mud

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