Afghan President Says U.S. Failed to Consult Him on Airstrike

Afghanistan President Hamid Karzai noted recently that the U.S. failed to consult with his government prior to ordering and carrying out an airstrike that ended up killing 18 civilians. Karzai further issued a warning that such actions occurring in the future would be considered a violation of Afghanistan?s agreement with the U.S. on military actions. Karzai?s relatively harsh words for the U.S., as well as the deaths of French forces in the eastern part of the country after a suicide bombing, remind the world that the pull out of international troops from the war-torn country may lead to further unrest there.

Even as Karzai was speaking, others have noted that the agreements and role of NATO troops as advisers and consultants is muddying the waters of exactly what the international mission is in the Afghanistan. The U.S. airstrike in question occurred as part of a nighttime raid on militants who were hiding in a village in the country. Such raids by the U.S. and other international forces have long been a problem for Karzai, who has to answer to his people when innocent civilians are killed or injured in such raids.

Spokesman Aimal Faizi noted, "This airstrike was a one-sided decision, and not coordinated with Afghan security forces. The continuation of uncoordinated operations and civilian casualties are against the recent decisions made between Afghanistan and the United States. The expectation of the Afghan government and the Afghan people was that a new page would open between Afghanistan and the United States." Faizi added that further unapproved airstrikes by the U.S. would be viewed as part of an "occupation" that would change the face of relations between the countries.

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