Foreign military deaths in Afghanistan in 2010 hit 626

KABUL: The deaths of three NATO soldiers — two on Sunday — in Afghanistan to fight the Taliban-led insurgency have taken the toll for this year to 626.

NATO’s International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) said the soldiers, whose nationalities were not revealed, died following insurgent attacks in eastern Afghanistan.

One of the soldiers died on Saturday and two died on Sunday, ISAF said in separate statements.

The AFP toll is based on a tally kept by the independent icasualties.org website. The total number of foreign soldiers killed in Afghanistan since the war began in late 2001 is 2,196.

Last year, 521 foreign troops died in the war.

NATO and the United States have more than 150,000 troops in the country fighting the Taliban-led insurgency.

The insurgency is concentrated in the southern provinces of Kandahar and neighbouring

Foreign military deaths in Afghanistan in 2010 hit 626

KABUL: The deaths of three NATO soldiers — two on Sunday — in Afghanistan to fight the Taliban-led insurgency have taken the toll for this year to 626.

NATO’s International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) said the soldiers, whose nationalities were not revealed, died following insurgent attacks in eastern Afghanistan.

One of the soldiers died on Saturday and two died on Sunday, ISAF said in separate statements.

The AFP toll is based on a tally kept by the independent icasualties.org website. The total number of foreign soldiers killed in Afghanistan since the war began in late 2001 is 2,196.

Last year, 521 foreign troops died in the war.

NATO and the United States have more than 150,000 troops in the country fighting the Taliban-led insurgency.

The insurgency is concentrated in the southern provinces of Kandahar and neighbouring

Foreign military deaths in Afghanistan in 2010 hit 626

KABUL: The deaths of three NATO soldiers — two on Sunday — in Afghanistan to fight the Taliban-led insurgency have taken the toll for this year to 626.

NATO’s International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) said the soldiers, whose nationalities were not revealed, died following insurgent attacks in eastern Afghanistan.

One of the soldiers died on Saturday and two died on Sunday, ISAF said in separate statements.

The AFP toll is based on a tally kept by the independent icasualties.org website. The total number of foreign soldiers killed in Afghanistan since the war began in late 2001 is 2,196.

Last year, 521 foreign troops died in the war.

NATO and the United States have more than 150,000 troops in the country fighting the Taliban-led insurgency.

The insurgency is concentrated in the southern provinces of Kandahar and neighbouring

COAS Kayani Orders Probe into Video Footage

RAWALPINDI: Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani Friday ordered an inquiry into an Internet video that shows men in military uniforms executing six young men in civilian clothes.

The COAS said in a statement that he has ordered setting up of a board of inquiry to establish the true identity of uniformed personnel and the veracity of the video footage.

‘The board will be headed by a Major General, a two star officer of Pakistan Army. He will be assisted by two / three senior officers with the experience of investigating into such incidents. Necessary technical expertise will be made available to the board’, the statement said.

General Kayani referred back to his Command Directive on the issues of Human Rights and Extra Judicial Killings, and stated that such violations of his orders, if true, will not be tolerated.

He categorically stated that it is not expected of a professional army to engage in excesses against the people whom it is trying to guard against the scourge of terrorism.

Expressing his determination to take strictest possible disciplinary action against the perpetrators, if identified to be soldiers of Pakistan Army, he termed the incident as unacceptable under any circumstances. He emphasized that Rules of Engagement (ROE) are sacrosanct.

He, however, cautioned against reaching hasty conclusions about involvement of Pakistan Army soldiers. He pointed out that in order to hide their identities, cause confusion and malign Pakistan Army; terrorists have previously been disguising themselves as Pakistan Army soldiers during a number of attacks including the one on GHQ.

General Kayani also directed commanders at all levels to be vigilant and follow the Army policy of zero tolerance in such cases in true letter and spirit.

The COAS said in a statement that he has ordered setting up of a board of inquiry to establish the true identity of uniformed personnel and the veracity of the video footage.’The board will be headed by a Major General, a two star officer of Pakistan Army. He will be assisted by two / three senior officers with the experience of investigating into such incidents. Necessary technical expertise will be made available to the board’, the statement said.General Kayani referred back to his Command Directive on the issues of Human Rights and Extra Judicial Killings, and stated that such violations of his orders, if true, will not be tolerated.He categorically stated that it is not expected of a professional army to engage in excesses against the people whom it is trying to guard against the scourge of terrorism.Expressing his determination to take strictest possible disciplinary action against the perpetrators, if identified to be soldiers of Pakistan Army, he termed the incident as unacceptable under any circumstances. He emphasized that Rules of Engagement (ROE) are sacrosanct.He, however, cautioned against reaching hasty conclusions about involvement of Pakistan Army soldiers. He pointed out that in order to hide their identities, cause confusion and malign Pakistan Army; terrorists have previously been disguising themselves as Pakistan Army soldiers during a number of attacks including the one on GHQ.General Kayani also directed commanders at all levels to be vigilant and follow the Army policy of zero tolerance in such cases in true letter and spirit.

COAS sets up body to probe video footage

Taking notice of an Internet video that shows Pakistan Army soldiers executing six youths clad in civvies, Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani Friday ordered setting up of a commission to ascertain veracity of the footage.
The COAS said in a statement that the board of inquiry would establish the true identity of uniformed personnel and the veracity of the video footage.
‘The board will be headed by a Major General, a two star officer of Pakistan Army. He will be assisted by two/three senior officers with the experience of investigating into such incidents. Necessary technical expertise would be made available to the board’, the statement said.
General Kayani referred back to his Command Directive on the issues of Human Rights and Extra Judicial Killings, and stated that such violations of his orders, if true, will not be tolerated.He categorically stated that it is not expected of a professional army to engage in excesses against the people whom it is trying to guard against the scourge of terrorism. Expressing his determination to take strictest possible disciplinary action against the perpetrators, if identified to be soldiers of Pakistan Army, he termed the incident as unacceptable under any circumstances. He emphasized that Rules of Engagement (ROE) are sacrosanct.
He, however, cautioned against reaching hasty conclusions about involvement of Pakistan Army soldiers. He pointed out that in order to hide their identities, cause confusion and malign Pakistan Army; terrorists have previously been disguising themselves as Pakistan Army soldiers during a number of attacks including the one on GHQ.General Kayani also directed commanders at all levels to be vigilant and follow the Army policy of zero tolerance in such cases in true letter and spirit.

Mullen regrets deaths of Pakistani soldiers

The top US military official conveyed his most sincere condolences to Pakistan’s army chief Thursday, over a fatal cross-border NATO strike that strained relations between the countries.
We we take this incident very seriously, Admiral Mike Mullen said in a letter to Pakistan army chief General Ashfaq Kayani, the US embassy said.
I wanted to send my most sincere condolences for the regrettable loss of your soldiers killed and wounded on 30 September near your border with Afghanistan.
Mullen said senior commanders would review an investigation into the incident thoroughly in the hope of avoiding recurrence of a tragedy like this.
The death of our soldiers in combat is always tragic, but under these circumstances, it is even more difficult to accept, he said.
The letter was made public a day after US ambassador Anne W. Patterson issued an apology for the incident last Thursday in which a cross-border NATO chopper strike killed at least two Pakistani soldiers mistaken for militants.
Pakistan, a key US ally in the battle against militants in the region, shut the main land route at Torkham following the intrusion into its territory.

US apologizes for NATO attacks inside Pakistan

The US apologized Wednesday for a recent helicopter attack that killed two Pakistani soldiers at an outpost near the Afghan border, saying American pilots mistook the soldiers for insurgents they were pursuing.
The apology, which came after the conclusion of a joint investigation, could pave the way for Pakistan to reopen a key border crossing that NATO uses to ship goods into landlocked Afghanistan. Pakistan closed the crossing in apparent reaction to the Sept. 30 incident.
We extend our deepest apology to Pakistan and the families of the Frontier Scouts who were killed and injured, said the US ambassador to Pakistan, Anne Patterson.
Pakistan initially reported that three soldiers were killed and three injured in the attack, but one of the soldiers who was critically injured and initially reported dead ended up surviving, said Maj. Fazlur Rehman, the spokesman for the Frontier Corps.
Pakistani soldiers fired at the two US helicopters prior to the attack, a move the investigation team said was likely meant to notify the aircraft of their presence after they passed into Pakistani airspace several times.
We believe the Pakistani border guard was simply firing warning shots after hearing the nearby engagement and hearing the helicopters flying nearby, said US Air Force Brig. Gen. Tim Zadalis, who led the investigation. This tragic event could have been avoided with better coalition force coordination with the Pakistan military.
The head of US and NATO forces in Afghanistan, Gen. David Petraeus, also expressed his condolences to the families of those killed and wounded, to the Pakistan military, and the people of Pakistan.
We deeply regret this tragic loss of life and will continue to work with the Pakistan military and government to ensure this doesn’t happen again, he said.

U.S. apologises to Pakistan over NATO shootings

ISLAMABAD: The American ambassador to Islamabad apologised to Pakistan on Wednesday for a NATO incursion in which U.S. helicopters killed two Pakistani soldiers, saying it was a “terrible accident”.

Am embassy statement said a joint investigation showed U.S. helicopters had mistaken the soldiers for insurgents they had been pursuing. AGENCIES

Two foreign soldiers killed in Afghanistan: NATO

KABUL: Two foreign soldiers battling the Taliban in southern Afghanistan were killed Sunday in a bomb attack, NATO said.

NATO’s International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) said the soldiers “died following an improvised explosive device attack in southern Afghanistan,” referring to roadside and remote-control bombs laid by the Taliban.

The nationalities of the dead were not given, according to policy.

The United States and NATO have almost 150,000 troops in Afghanistan, battling an insurgency launched soon after the Taliban’s 1996-2001 regime was overthrown in a US-led invasion. AGENCIES

Two foreign soldiers killed in Afghanistan: NATO

KABUL: Two foreign soldiers battling the Taliban in southern Afghanistan were killed Sunday in a bomb attack, NATO said.

NATO’s International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) said the soldiers “died following an improvised explosive device attack in southern Afghanistan,” referring to roadside and remote-control bombs laid by the Taliban.

The nationalities of the dead were not given, according to policy.

The United States and NATO have almost 150,000 troops in Afghanistan, battling an insurgency launched soon after the Taliban’s 1996-2001 regime was overthrown in a US-led invasion. AGENCIES

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