Originally posted by the Voice of America.
Voice of America content is produced by the Voice of America,
a United States federal government-sponsored entity, and is in
the public domain.


Afghan Officials Say Taliban, Not Civilians, Killed in Air Strike

Ayesha Tanzeem

   ISLAMABAD - Afghanistan's acting defense minister said the government
   would soon share evidence that an airstrike in Herat province Wednesday
   that locals say targeted a wedding party actually killed Taliban
   militants.

   Asadullah Khalid told a gathering in Kabul Thursday that his ministry
   had the video footage of the attack in Adraskan district that showed
   presence of Taliban in Khom-e-Zairat village. He expressed hope that an
   investigation would prove that no civilian was harmed in the strike.

   The Defense Ministry had promised an investigation after residents
   claimed at least eight civilians were killed and dozens wounded,
   including children, in an Afghan air force strike Wednesday morning.

   A number of the wounded shifted from the strike site to Herat regional
   hospital told the local VOA reporter that they were attending a wedding
   ceremony when the air force bombed vehicles in the house.

   Jialani Farhad, a spokesman for the Herat provincial government, said
   tens of Taliban, including Taliban commanders, were killed in the
   strike.

   A senior United States official deeply involved in the Afghan peace
   process also demanded an investigation.

   "In Herat, photos and eyewitness accounts suggest many civilians
   including children are among the victims of an Afghan airstrike. We
   condemn the attack and support an investigation," tweeted Zalmay
   Khalilzad, the Special Representative for Afghanistan Reconciliation.

     1/4 The last 24 hours have been very violent in Afghanistan with
     many losing their lives.
     In Herat, photos and eyewitness accounts suggest many civilians
     including children are among the victims of an Afghan airstrike. We
     condemn the attack and support an investigation.
     -- U.S. Special Representative Zalmay Khalilzad (@US4AfghanPeace)
     [1]July 22, 2020

   He also criticized the Taliban for recent violence taking Afghan lives
   and said both sides needed to "show necessary restraint as the start of
   intra-Afghan negotiations is so close."

   Intra-Afghan negotiations refers to talks between the Taliban, the
   Afghan government, and other Afghan factions for a political settlement
   in the country's decades long conflict.

   The negotiations are a sequel of earlier talks between the U.S. and
   Taliban culminating in an agreement signed on February 29.

References

   1. https://twitter.com/US4AfghanPeace/status/1286073851374436352?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw

.