Airstrike incident
An airstrike by Afghan forces killed 45 people in Afghanistan’s Herat province and injured many others. Local sources and the Afghan government’s governor of Adraskhan district confirmed the killing of civilians in the airstrikes.“Forty-five people had been killed so far in airstrikes by security forces in the Kham Ziarat area, Taliban were among those killed,” he said.
Qari Muhammad Yousuf Ahmadi, a Taliban spokesman, said in a statement that two airstrikes in Heart have killed eight civilians and wounded 12.
US forces were not involved
Moreover, the spokesperson for the US forces in Afghanistan has denied involvement in the airstrikes.
The United States is winding up its mission in Afghanistan. Under the Peace deal with Taliban fighters signed on 29th February 2020. Although the peace process is making slow progress. Both Taliban and the United States have avoided attacking each other after the peace deal.
Investigation started
Furthermore, Afghanistan’s Ministry of Defense said it was investigating allegations of civilian casualties in attacks by Afghan forces in the area.
“The results of the investigation will given to the public and the media. The National Defense and Security Forces have the responsibility to protect the lives and property of the people, in this regard, they use all the opportunities and facilities and will not spare any effort,” the statement said.
Lack of discipline in the Afghan Army
The killing of civilians by Afghan forces is not a new phenomenon. A few weeks ago, a Bazar shelled by neighbouring Afghan military base camp killed dozens of civilians. Afghan forces claimed that it was in retaliation to Taliban fighters. However, local sources confirmed that all killed were local civilians and there was no Taliban fighters activity. Incidents of bad conduct and indiscipline are common in the Afghan army. Reports of corruption, selling of arms and ammunition in the black market, physical abuse, and defection to the Taliban keep surfacing from time to time.
