Gates in Afghanistan amid indignation over Kunar civilian deaths
IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency
Kabul, March 7, IRNA -- U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates arrived in Afghanistan on Monday for talks with the government a day after demonstrators in Kabul chanted 'Death to U.S.' protesting civilian casualties in Kunar air raids by the US forces.
Gates' trip to Afghanistan comes at at time of strained relations between Afghanistan and the U.S., following dozens of civilian deaths including nine Afghan boys in air raids on northeastern Kunar province last Tuesday.
President Karzai told General David Petraeus, commander of U.S.-led NATO forces in Afghanistan, Sunday that his apology for the deaths of the boys was 'not enough.'
The Afghan leader said civilian casualties resulting from NATO military operations are 'no longer acceptable.'
“The Afghan people are tired of these kinds of incidents, and excuses and apologies cannot heal their pain,” Karzai said, according to a statement released by his office.
“On behalf of the people of Afghanistan I ask that there should be no further occurrence of such incidents,” he said.
Islamic Republic News Agency/IRNA NewsCode: 30285175
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