28 November 2011

Afghan civilians killed during an ISAF operation

On Wednesday 23 November 2011, 7 Afghan civilians – including 6 children – were killed during a NATO airstrike in southern Afghanistan. According to the Afghan government, the strikes were targeting insurgents who entered an area were children were playing. The relatives of the victims, however, are contesting this version of the events and claim that ISAF indiscriminately killed civilians. NATO is investigating the incident.

Source: www.nytimes.com

8 March 2011

Apologies are not enough: on the practical importance of implementing international responsibility

The accidental killing of nine Afghan children by the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) in the beginning of March led to apologies by the ISAF commander General Petraeus. Those excuses were rejected by President Karzai as insufficient. It is indeed expected that in case of military acts breaching international law, the ISAF should provide financial compensation for the injuries caused, not only satisfaction in the form of official apologies. (more…)