By Shayne R. Burnham
Impunity Watch Reporter, Asia
KABUL, Afghanistan – On Wednesday, a U.S. air strike hit the remote village of Wech Baghtu, located in the southern province of Kandahar, Afghanistan. The bombing resulted in the killing of 37 people, all civilians who were attending a wedding party. Of those killed, 23 were women and 10 were children. As Senator Barack Obama was newly elected as successor to President Bush, President Hamid Karzai of Afghanistan called upon him to stop civilian casualties. He stated, “Our demand is that there will be no civilian casualties in Afghanistan. We cannot fight against terrorism with airstrikes. This is my first demand of the new president of the United States–to put an end to civilian airstrikes.”
A relative of the bride, Abdul Jalil, witnessed the bombing. Jalil said that there was U.S. and Taliban fighting approximately one-half mile from his home. Shortly thereafter, a fighter aircraft bombed the housing complex where the wedding would take place. Subsequently U.S. troops came to the scene of the bombing and questioned villagers in search of militants.
Approximately 4,000 people have died this year, almost a third of them are civilians. NATO and the U.S. claim that mistakes happen and even more people die as a result of Taliban terrorist activity. U.S. forces spokesman Commander Jeff Bender stated, “If innocent people were killed in this operation, we apologize and express our condolences to the families and the people of Afghanistan.”
The increasing civilian death toll has caused tension among President Karzai and the U.S. and NATO, particularly the August bombing that occurred in the Shah Wali Kot district. President Karzai has called for a review of reports of civilian casualties.
Senator Obama has said during his campaign that he would launch attacks against terrorist sites located in Pakistan if Pakistan cannot and will not act against them.
For more information, please see:
Associated Press – Karzai ‘Demands’ Obama End Civilian Deaths After Latest Incident – 5 November 2008
Fox News – 33 Killed in Alleged U.S. Strike in Afghanistan – 5 November 2008
Reuters – U.S. Strike Kills Wedding Party Goers: Afghan Officials – 5 November 2008
