The United Nations on Monday called on the international forces operating in Afghanistan to abide by their own tactical military rules and avoid inflicting civilian deaths, after a NATO airstrike killed 27 Afghans, dpa reported.
The Afghan government said the 27 victims, who included women and children, were riding in a three-vehicle convoy in the Uruzgan province on Sunday when they came under attack by NATO forces.
NATO forms the bulk of the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) deployed to assist Kabul on security matters. ISAF took responsibility for the incident and apologized on Sunday.
"However, measures highlighted in the tactical directives and guidelines issued by ISAF on the use of lethal force must be fully implemented at all times and under all circumstances," said the UN deputy special envoy for Afghanistan in Kabul, Robert Watkins.
"In addition to the tragic loss of life, trust in the intentions of the international military forces in Afghanistan will suffer greatly if military forces do not take more care to protect Afghan lives," Watkins said.
Watkins said the UN mission in Afghanistan has repeatedly called on "all parties" in Afghanistan to do their utmost to avoid civilian casualties and the request was repeated following Sunday's incident.
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