In a statement released by his office Monday, President Ghani ordered Afghan Security and Defense Forces to “exercise utmost caution” while conducting operations in bids to contain civilian casualties.
President Ghani pointed the blame at Taliban, saying the Taliban and other terrorist groups use civilian houses and public places as “shield” which is considered to be the “main driver” of civilian deaths and injuries.
“Civilian casualties are the misfortunes of the current war,” the statement quoted President Ghani, and “are unacceptable and intolerable” for both the president and other government officials.
Afghan Ministry of Defense also announced Monday it was investigating the alleged civilian casualties in airstrikes in the southwest of Afghanistan.
The ministry said in the statement that as many as nine “Pakistani terrorists” and five Taliban fighters were killed and another five “local” Taliban fighters were wounded after Afghan Air Forces carried out an air raid on a Taliban hideout in Khashrod district.
On Sunday, provincial officials in Nimroz claimed at least 18 civilians were killed and many others wounded in an overnight airstrike in Khash Rod district of the province.
Witnesses and the wounded people claim the airstrike was carried out by Afghan forces.
Follow TKG on Twitter & Facebook
