US drone attack kills 2 in eastern Afghanistan
Iran Press TV
Fri Oct 18, 2013 2:49PM GMT
An airstrike carried out by a US terror drone has killed at least two people in Afghanistan's eastern Province of Nuristan, which borders Pakistan.
Initial reports and local security officials say the victims were Taliban militants.
However, the militant group has not yet commented on the attack.
The US-led western military alliance has also confirmed the strike, which was the second targeting Nuristan since Wednesday.
In the latest such incident, eleven people died and scores more were wounded in the southern Province of Kandahar.
Washington claims its drone attacks target militants. But, reports on the ground say civilians frequently fall victims to such attacks as well as U-S-led nighttime raids.
Many civilians have lost their lives in US-led strikes and operations in various parts of Afghanistan over the past decade, with Afghans becoming increasingly outraged at the seemingly endless number of the deadly assaults.
The Afghan government has on numerous occasions warned Washington to stop attacks on innocent civilians.
Civilian casualties caused by foreign forces have been a major source of tension between Kabul and Washington.
The United States and its allies invaded Afghanistan in 2001 as part of Washington's so-called war on terror. The offensive removed the Taliban from power, but insecurity remains high in the country.
US drone strikes have escalated significantly over the past year, fueling anti-American sentiment in Afghanistan, Pakistan, Yemen and Somalia.
The United Nations says the US-operated drone strikes pose a growing challenge to the international rule of law.
Philip Alston, UN special envoy on extrajudicial killings, said in a report in late October 2010 that the attacks were undermining the rules designed to protect the right of life.
Alston also said he fears that the drone killings by the US Central Intelligence Agency could develop a 'play station' mentality.
JR/AB
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