KABUL (SW): The United States’ officials will initiate an investigation of an airstrike conducted by U.S. forces in Maiwand district, Kandahar province on 6 Sept, a non-classified message by the NATO-led Resolute Support Program (RSP) said on Tuesday.
"Based on information we received today, we feel it is prudent to investigate the airstrike our forces conducted in Kandahar on 6 September," said Brig. Gen. Wilson Shoffner, Deputy Chief of Staff for Communications. "We will complete the investigation in close coordination with our Afghan partners and in a transparent, timely and thorough manner. We will release further details regarding this incident as they become available”, he added.
Earlier on Tuesday, an Afghan official said the Anti-Narcotics Force (ANF) was conducting an operation against smugglers on Monday before being targeted by the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) in Kandahar. Eleven ANF men and their two informers died in the attack.
Col. Nabi Jan Mullahkhail, Helmand Security Chief told journalists in Lashkargah, the provincial capital of Helmand today that all the security organs in the area were informed prior to the operation in Kandahar’s Reg area by the ANF. “We knew ISAF was conducting but our men were wearing uniforms but still they targeted them”, he said.
Helmand Security Chief said they were conducting a counter-narcotics operation following a tip before being targeted by the ISAF forces. Col. Mullahkhail said investigations into the incident were underway.
The RSP has underlined in its message that the United States Forces-Afghanistan remains committed to assisting Afghan partners in achieving sustainable security and stability.
ENDS
