NATO regrets civilian killings, Jirga summoned to protest

KABUL/ISLAMABAD: The NATO-led forces have regretted the killing of at least nine civilians during anti militant operation near Afghanistan Pakistan border over the weekend, as tribal chiefs convened a grand 'jirga' (assembly) Sunday to decide the future course of action.

NATO's International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) said in Kabul that the follow-up investigations found civilian casualties were among the dead.

"We have reports that one of our weapons hit a building which may have had a number of civilians in it and that building may have been a home or way-station or some hotel facility," ISAF spokesman said.

"We regret the loss of innocent life and our prayers are with the families of those who died."

The spokesman, however, said that the strikes had been carried out in coordination with the Pakistani military, which was also involved in the investigation to find out how civilians were killed.

The ISAF had crossed the border "mistakenly", said the spokesman.

In Miranshah in north Waziristan on Pakistan Afghanistan border, politicians called a grand jirga of Utmanzai Wazir tribesmen, which is expected to take "some vital decisions regarding the raids and actions" that had recently taken place on the borders.

Over 300 tribal chiefs, ulemas and councillors of Utmanzai tribesmen are attending this jirga at the north Waziristan headquarters.

Meanwhile, the authorities in Pakistan put the figure of the civilians killed at ten, causing the government to lodge "a strong protest" with the US-led coalition forces in neighbouring Afghanistan.

"Ten innocent people were reported killed when some mortars hit civilians in Mangroti village in the Shawal region," military spokesman Maj. Gen. Waheed Arshad said. Thirteen others were injured in the fire.

However, locals put the death toll at 20 and said the dead included a child, a woman and seven men, all from the same family.

"Pakistan has lodged a strong protest with coalition forces seeking an explanation," Gen. Arshad told Daily Times from Rawalpindi, adding the killing of civilians was not intentional.

He noted that such attacks that killed civilians could lessen support for operations against militants.

Residents of the Shawal area of north Waziristan said fighting had spilled over from Afghanistan late Friday and 20 people had been killed. They said the dead were nomads. "We have recovered 20 bodies including six members of a family," said Wali Mohammad Jhangikhel.

Meanwhile, according to a private TV channel, coalition fighter planes pounded Angoor Ada in south Waziristan, destroying more than 15 houses Saturday.

Residents told BBC that a US gunship helicopter fired several rockets on a small hotel on the night between Friday and Saturday at about 3 a.m., killing at least 12 people and destroying the hotel, houses and vehicles parked in nearby areas.

Coalition fighter planes pounded Angoor Ada in South Waziristan, destroying more than 15 houses, a private TV channel reported. People of the area told BBC that a US gunship helicopter fired several rockets on a small hotel in the wee hours of Saturday, killing 12 people and destroying the hotel, houses and vehicles parked nearby.

Firing from the Afghan side by the US-led forces chasing fleeing militants has become frequent as the 'Spring Offensive' to counter the Taliban resurgence, aided by Pakistani tribals, continues.

Under US pressure, the Pakistan government has been trying to get its tribals to dissociate themselves from the Afghan Taliban and other foreign mercenaries they have been sheltering over the years.