PAN, September 24, 2009


Six civilians dead in Kandahar air strike by foreign forces

Locals said there was no Taliban in the area. They expressed their wonder why the foreign forces conducted the air strike.

By Basher Ahmad Nadem

KANDAHAR: Six people were killed and several others wounded in an air strike by foreign forces in Arghandab district of the volatile southern Kandahar province, residents said Thursday.

The air raid was conducted late Wednesday night in Nagahan area that lasted one hour, according to residents, who had brought their injured relatives to the Mirwais Civil Hospital in Kandahar City.

Abdul Wahid, a resident said, several gunship helicopters arrived in the area and suddenly started bombing their houses.

He said till morning six dead bodies were retrieved from beneath the rubbles of the destroyed houses.

He feared the death toll could be increased as residents were searching for bodies.

Health Director Dr. Abdul Qayyum told Pajhwok Afghan News seven injured people were brought to the hospital from Arghandab district.

A senior police officer in the province, Fazl Ahmad Sherzad, confirmed the air strike.

He added that 5 Taliban were killed and 15 other were injured in this air strike.

Some residents said the attack was carried out in the area of a tribal elder Pehlawan, who had raised a tribal force against Taliban militants.

Locals said there was no Taliban in the area. They expressed their wonder why the foreign forces conducted the air strike.

Foreign forces based in Kandahar have said nothing about the air raid.

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