KABUL (SW): Based on the initial findings, Afghan and NATO officials have declared the deadly “friendly fire” in Logar that claimed the lives of 7 soldiers as the result of a misunderstanding.
Dawlat Waziri, Spokesman for the Ministry of Defense (MoD) and Gen. Fischer, Head of Strategic and Communication for the NATO forces told this to journalists in Kabul on Monday.
At least 7 Afghan soldiers were killed and 5 other were wounded as a result of US airstrike in Baraki Barak district, Logar province last week.
The incident was widely condemned by the Afghan officials and civil society alike. On the directives of President Mohammad Ashraf Ghani, a joint investigation team was tasked to probe the incident.
Gen. Fischer said that armed militants were in close vicinity to the security check post that was why the Apache helicopter that was hovering over mistakenly targeted the post.
He said that the pilot’s negligence led to the unfortunate incident. Coalition forces’ spokesman added detailed investigations would take few more days.
On his part, Dawlat Waziri said misunderstanding caused the casualties.
Day after United States Joint Chiefs of Staff, Gen. Martin E. Dempsey visited Afghanistan, an aerial raid by the U.S. forces killed eight Afghan National Army (ANA) soldiers in the eastern Logar province, officials said on Monday.
The incident reportedly occurred in the restive Baraki Barak district this morning around 8 O’ clock Monday July 20. Mohammad Rahim Amin, district chief told SW eight soldiers lost lives and five more got injured. The area has been known for strong Taliban presence while security forces have been busy fighting them out.
Monday’s incident came day after chairman of the United States Joint Chiefs of Staff, Gen. Martin E. Dempsey visited Afghanistan.
According to the U.S. Department of Defense, President Ashraf Ghani and Gen. Dempsey discussed the possibility of forming a network to oppose the trans-regional threat posed by the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) or Daesh.
ENDS
