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NATO airstrike kills 5 Afghan soldiers NATO airstrike kills 5 Afghan soldiers
(about 7 hours later)
KABUL — A NATO airstrike on Thursday killed at least five Afghan soldiers in one of the most devastating incidents of friendly fire in the 12-year history of the U.S.-led war in Afghanistan. KABUL — A NATO airstrike Thursday killed at least five Afghan soldiers in one of the most devastating incidents of friendly fire in the 12-year history of the U.S.-led war in Afghanistan.
The troops were killed at an outpost in volatile Logar province, about 50 miles outside Kabul, according to both U.S. and Afghan officials. It remains unclear how the accident occurred, and officials said it was currently under investigation. The troops were killed at an outpost in volatile Logar province, about 50 miles outside Kabul, according to both U.S. and Afghan officials. It remains unclear how the accident occurred, and officials said it was under investigation.
There has been no more sensitive issue in Afghanistan than NATO airstrikes, which President Hamid Karzai has long protested as inhumane and ineffective. U.S. military officials have argued that they are a critical component of counterterrorism efforts. The strikes — far less frequent than they once were — are made by both drones and manned aircraft. There has been no morje sensitive issue in Afghanistan than NATO airstrikes, which President Hamid Karzai has long protested as inhumane and ineffective. U.S. military officials have argued that they are a critical component of counterterrorism efforts. The strikes — far less frequent than they once were — are made by both drones and manned aircraft.
“The coalition knows the location of every Afghan outpost,” said Abdul Wali, head of the Logar Provincial Council. “How can such incidents happen?”“The coalition knows the location of every Afghan outpost,” said Abdul Wali, head of the Logar Provincial Council. “How can such incidents happen?”
Western officials were quick to apologize for the attack, which occurred before sunrise Thursday.Western officials were quick to apologize for the attack, which occurred before sunrise Thursday.
In a statement, the U.S.-led International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) said the aircraft was performing reconnaissance for an Afghan operation when it “engaged suspected insurgents on a ridge.”In a statement, the U.S.-led International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) said the aircraft was performing reconnaissance for an Afghan operation when it “engaged suspected insurgents on a ridge.”
“It was later determined that the suspected insurgents were Afghan National Army soldiers,” the statement said.“It was later determined that the suspected insurgents were Afghan National Army soldiers,” the statement said.
“We value the strong relationship with our Afghan partners, and we will determine what actions will be taken to ensure incidents like this do not happen again,” ISAF said.“We value the strong relationship with our Afghan partners, and we will determine what actions will be taken to ensure incidents like this do not happen again,” ISAF said.
Aside from the five soldiers killed, another seven were wounded, according to provincial spokesman Mohammad Darwish. In addition to the five soldiers killed, another seven were wounded, according to provincial spokesman Mohammad Darwish.
“The outpost was the front line against Taliban,” he said, but he could not confirm whether there had been an ongoing operation. “The outpost was the front line against the Taliban,” he said, but he could not confirm whether there had been an ongoing operation.
Afghan soldiers often request U.S. air support during intense firefights with the Taliban, and Afghan military officials credit that assistance with saving the lives of many troops. But the United States also maintains the ability to conduct unilateral strikes on its own, often targeting high-level insurgents.Afghan soldiers often request U.S. air support during intense firefights with the Taliban, and Afghan military officials credit that assistance with saving the lives of many troops. But the United States also maintains the ability to conduct unilateral strikes on its own, often targeting high-level insurgents.
This time, according to Logar-based Afghan military spokesman Mohammad Sadiq, the Afghans did not call in an airstrike.This time, according to Logar-based Afghan military spokesman Mohammad Sadiq, the Afghans did not call in an airstrike.
Also on Thursday, the president’s brother, Qayum Karzai, announced that he would withdraw his bid for the presidency and support Zalmai Rassoul, now widely believed to be the front-runner in a presidential election scheduled for April.Also on Thursday, the president’s brother, Qayum Karzai, announced that he would withdraw his bid for the presidency and support Zalmai Rassoul, now widely believed to be the front-runner in a presidential election scheduled for April.
President Karzai told The Washington Post this week that he had been pressuring his brother to leave the race so as to avoid the perception that he backed Qayum Karzai’s candidacy. But that pressure has given many Afghans the impression that Karzai is trying to clear the way for Rassoul, his former foreign minister.President Karzai told The Washington Post this week that he had been pressuring his brother to leave the race so as to avoid the perception that he backed Qayum Karzai’s candidacy. But that pressure has given many Afghans the impression that Karzai is trying to clear the way for Rassoul, his former foreign minister.
In a news conference Thursday, Qayum Karzai did not address his brother’s role in ending his campaign. Instead, he spoke in broad terms about Rassoul’s qualifications.In a news conference Thursday, Qayum Karzai did not address his brother’s role in ending his campaign. Instead, he spoke in broad terms about Rassoul’s qualifications.
“I request all respectable religious scholars, tribal elders, youths, sisters and brothers to strongly support Dr. Zalmai Rassoul,” he said.“I request all respectable religious scholars, tribal elders, youths, sisters and brothers to strongly support Dr. Zalmai Rassoul,” he said.
But in an interview on Sunday, when asked about his brother’s pressure, he said: “Sometimes laws and regulations don’t apply to families.” But in an interview Sunday, when asked about his brother’s pressure, he said: “Sometimes laws and regulations don’t apply to families.”