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Afghan President Karzai condemns 'deadly US air strike'
Afghan President Hamid Karzai. Photo: November 2013
Hamid Karzai is demanding further security guarantees from the US
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Taliban Conflict
Loya Jirga: Q&A
Pakistan's interests
Who are the Taliban?
Q&A: Foreign forces
Afghan President Hamid Karzai has condemned a US air strike that has killed a small child and injured two women in southern Helmand province.
Mr Karzai's spokesman said the raid on a house was another sign of America's disregard for civilian life. The US has so far made no comment on the issue.
This comes as Washington and Kabul are finalising a deal allowing US troops to remain in Afghanistan after 2014.
Mr Karzai is refusing to sign the pact, wanting further US assurances.
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His office said earlier this week he demanded guarantees that American troops would not raid Afghan homes and that Washington would help start stalled peace talks with the Taliban.
Also among his conditions was the return of Afghan citizens held in Guantanamo Bay, according to reports.
Meanwhile, elders at a grand assembly (Loya Jirga) in Kabul earlier called for the deal to be signed.
'Cruelty'
A presidential statement said the US strike in Helmand "reveals that American forces have no respect for Afghan lives".
It said that as long as such "cruelty" continued, "the security pact will not be signed with America".
The Afghan Islamic Press news agency said the US raid hit a house in the Faqiran village in Garmser district. It said a two-year-old child was killed in the attack.
Continue reading the main story
Security deal - main points
Jurisdiction: US forces remaining after 2014 reportedly to receive immunity from Afghan courts
Sovereignty: In October 2013 President Karzai appeared to have secured US agreement not to carry out attacks on Afghan soil without first consulting the Afghan authorities
Security: The US in October 2013 said that it would not protect Afghanistan from external attack because it could get mired in a war with Pakistan
Loya Jirga: Q&A
Pundits divided on Afghan-US pact
Why Pakistan fears pullout
Accidental Afghan casualties are a major source of friction between the government in Kabul and the US-led troops.
The US-Afghan security deal may see 15,000 foreign troops remain after 2014, although Washington says it has not yet taken a decision on any presence.
The soldiers who stay beyond 2014, when most foreign combat forces leave, would primarily train and mentor Afghan forces. Some special forces would stay to conduct "counter-terror operations".
Washington insists the deal - which has taken months to negotiate - must be signed before the end of this year.
Afghan President Hamid Karzai. Photo: November 2013
Hamid Karzai is demanding further security guarantees from the US
Continue reading the main story
Taliban Conflict
Loya Jirga: Q&A
Pakistan's interests
Who are the Taliban?
Q&A: Foreign forces
Afghan President Hamid Karzai has condemned a US air strike that has killed a small child and injured two women in southern Helmand province.
Mr Karzai's spokesman said the raid on a house was another sign of America's disregard for civilian life. The US has so far made no comment on the issue.
This comes as Washington and Kabul are finalising a deal allowing US troops to remain in Afghanistan after 2014.
Mr Karzai is refusing to sign the pact, wanting further US assurances.
map
His office said earlier this week he demanded guarantees that American troops would not raid Afghan homes and that Washington would help start stalled peace talks with the Taliban.
Also among his conditions was the return of Afghan citizens held in Guantanamo Bay, according to reports.
Meanwhile, elders at a grand assembly (Loya Jirga) in Kabul earlier called for the deal to be signed.
'Cruelty'
A presidential statement said the US strike in Helmand "reveals that American forces have no respect for Afghan lives".
It said that as long as such "cruelty" continued, "the security pact will not be signed with America".
The Afghan Islamic Press news agency said the US raid hit a house in the Faqiran village in Garmser district. It said a two-year-old child was killed in the attack.
Continue reading the main story
Security deal - main points
Jurisdiction: US forces remaining after 2014 reportedly to receive immunity from Afghan courts
Sovereignty: In October 2013 President Karzai appeared to have secured US agreement not to carry out attacks on Afghan soil without first consulting the Afghan authorities
Security: The US in October 2013 said that it would not protect Afghanistan from external attack because it could get mired in a war with Pakistan
Loya Jirga: Q&A
Pundits divided on Afghan-US pact
Why Pakistan fears pullout
Accidental Afghan casualties are a major source of friction between the government in Kabul and the US-led troops.
The US-Afghan security deal may see 15,000 foreign troops remain after 2014, although Washington says it has not yet taken a decision on any presence.
The soldiers who stay beyond 2014, when most foreign combat forces leave, would primarily train and mentor Afghan forces. Some special forces would stay to conduct "counter-terror operations".
Washington insists the deal - which has taken months to negotiate - must be signed before the end of this year.
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