Press Release
Date of Release: 26 October 2006
President Karzai Assigns an Inquiry Team to Investigate NATO’s Bombing
Arg, Kabul – H.E. Hamid Karzai, President of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, through a presidential decree assigned an inquiry team to fully investigate the reports of civilian casualties during NATO’s air operations in Panjwayi and Pashmul districts of Kandahar province.
This team is made up of tribal and community elders from various districts of Kandahar province and is headed by Al Hajj Mullah Naqeebullah Akhund, a senior Afghan figure from Kandahar province. The other members of the team include:
1. Alhaj Ali Ahmad Khan Aka
2. Alhaj Essa Jaan
3. Alhaj Agha Lalai
4. Alhaj Shahzahd Khan
5. Malem Nasrullah Khan Balouch
6. Hajji Nik Muhammad Khan
7. Neyaz Muhammad Khan Sarhadi
The team has been tasked to prepare a full and complete account of the incident and identify its causes and victims. The team will investigate the reports of civilian casualties and damages inflicted in this operation. They will also present their suggestions to the President on how such unfortunate incidents could be prevented in the future.
At the instruction of the President, this matter will be included in the agenda of the next meeting of the Policy Action Group which is going to be held on Monday. The meeting will discuss ways to prevent civilian casualties during anti-terrorist operations and ensuring better coordination between Government and NATO forces.
The meeting will be attended by the Afghan Government authorities and senior representatives of the international community.
For further information, please contact:
Office of the Spokesman to the President
Tel.: 00 93 799 33 77 55
00 93 799 90 94 29
Released by the Office of the Spokesman to the President
Islamic Republic of Afghanistan
