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Civilian deaths in Afghanistan in NATO airstrike deserve justice: Amnesty International

Just Earth News 04 Nov 2016, 05:02 pm Print

Civilian deaths in Afghanistan in NATO airstrike deserve justice: Amnesty International
Mumbai, Nov 4 (Just Earth News): Slamming the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) for civilian deaths in Afghanistan in an airstrike in Kunduz, the south Asian wing of Amnesty International demanded justice for the deceased.

The airstrike reportedly killed 30 civilians.

“The tragic deaths of 30 civilians in a NATO airstrike in Kunduz deserve justice. Afghanistan is going through one of the deadliest years on record when it comes to civilian casualties. Previous violations of international humanitarian law by US/NATO troops still remain uninvestigated and unpunished. This cannot be another example of inaction in the face of such loss of life,” said Champa Patel, Amnesty International’s South Asia Director.

“Under international humanitarian law, if civilians appear to have been killed deliberately or indiscriminately, or as part of a disproportionate attack, the incident requires a prompt, thorough and impartial inquiry. If that inquiry shows that the laws of war were violated, a prosecution should be initiated,” Patel added.

“Left in the Dark”, a 2014 report by Amnesty International, detailed the failures of accountability for US military operations in Afghanistan. 

The report, based on interviews with 125 Afghan victims, their family members and eyewitnesses to the attacks, detailed 10 different incidents that ended with the deaths of at least 140 civilians, including at least 50 children. 

Among the incidents was a late-night raid on a home in February 2010 in Paktia province that left two pregnant women, two criminal justice officials and a teenage girl dead.