NATO Admits Afghanistan Kills One Family in Air Raid

pasukan NATO (AFP)

Kabul, NATO forces in Afghanistan claimed responsibility for thedeath of a family in an air strike last week. Family consisting of six people were killed in an air strike in Helmand province, southernAfghanistan.

This confession came a day after Afghan President Hamid Karzaiand NATO military commander summoned the U.S. ambassador toAfghanistan. During the meeting, Karzai warned that civilian casualties could threaten the strategic pact signed by U.S. President Barack Obama last week.

"In the current investigation we can confirm the incident and willformally apologize to the family within the next two days," said a spokeswoman for the International Security Assistance Force(ISAF) told AFP on Tuesday (5/8/2012 ).

"We are very sorry for any civilian deaths, particularly regretted the incidents in which civilians were killed as a result of the action ofISAF," said Lieutenant Colonel Stewart Upton of the regionalcommand of ISAF.

Previously, the office of the governor of Helmand province said thefamily was killed in an air strike on Friday, May 4 after insurgentsattacked an ISAF checkpoint. NATO air strikes targeting insurgentsare being accidentally pressed instead of the family.

"Unfortunately, the six family members including two boys, three girls and a woman were killed as a result of the incident," remarked.

The number of civilians killed in the war in Afghanistan has increased sharply each year in the last five years. According to UN data, accounted for 3021 deaths in 2011 and, largely due to militantattacks.