KABUL, Afghanistan (AP) — Afghan President Hamid Karzai says he will no longer allow NATO airstrikes on houses because they have caused too many civilian casualties. He says a recent strike that mistakenly killed a group of children and women will be the last.
Karzai told reporters in Kabul on Tuesday that “from this moment, airstrikes on the houses of people are not allowed.” It was the president’s strongest statement against the strikes, which NATO says are a necessary weapon in the war against the Taliban insurgency.
NATO says it never conducts such strikes without Afghan government coordination and approval. NATO officials could not immediately be reached for comment on Karzai’s statement.
