AfghanistanAsia-Pacific

8 civilians killed in US-led airstrike in eastern Afghanistan


At least eight members of a family, including six children, have been killed in a US-led airstrike in Paktia Province in eastern Afghanistan, Press TV reports.

A man, his wife and six of their children were killed in the attack on Saturday in the village of Suri Khail in the Gurda Saria district of Paktia Province, a local government spokesman Rohullah Samoon said

The US-led NATO military alliance said it is investigating and gathering information about the incident.

The issue of civilian casualties in Afghanistan is highly sensitive and has been a major source of friction between President Hamid Karzai and the United States.

The loss of civilian lives at the hands of US-led foreign forces has dramatically increased anti-American sentiments in Afghanistan, triggering anti-US protests across the volatile country.

Despite showing outrage and displeasure over the US-led airstrikes and civilian casualties, the Afghan leader signed a security pact with US President Barack Obama in early May, allowing the American forces to stay one more decade beyond 2014 in the war-ravaged country.

The Afghan parliament, meanwhile, approved the deal on Saturday.

US-led troops have been fighting in Afghanistan since 2001. Their initial offensive removed the Taliban from power, but insecurity continues to rise across the country despite the presence of about 130,000 foreign forces.

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