The top U.S. and NATO commander in Afghanistan General John R. Allen on Wednesday condemned the reported insulting of the remains of Afghan insurgents by U.S. soldiers and vowed to investigate it, said a press release issued by the military alliance, Xinhua reported.
"The commander of the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF), Gen. John R. Allen, strongly condemns the actions depicted in photos released by LA Times that appear to show U.S. Army personnel posing with the bodies of insurgents who killed themselves in suicide attacks in 2010," the NATO-led ISAF said in the release.
"The actions of the individuals photographed do not represent the policies of ISAF or the U.S. Army," Allen said, adding "This behavior and these images are entirely inconsistent with the values of ISAF and all service members of the fifty ISAF countries serving in Afghanistan," the press release added.
"We continue to work with our Afghan and international partners to resolve any issues related to improper treatment of remains. This incident is being thoroughly investigated by U.S. national authorities."
"(The) ISAF has a strict policy for the handling of enemy remains and dictates they be processed as humanely as possible. The incident depicted in the LA Times' photographs represents a serious error in judgment by several soldiers who have acted out of ignorance and unfamiliarity with U.S. Army values," the ISAF release said.
However, it did not furnish information about the photos published in LA Times. It has merit to mention that in the past, photos released by certain media outlets, depicted U.S. soldiers urinating on the bodies of Taliban militants.
"These actions undermine the daily sacrifices of thousands of ISAF troops who continue to serve honorably in Afghanistan," Allen said.