Afghan President Ghani promises to prevent civilian casualties in war against militants
Record ID:
1433112
Afghan President Ghani promises to prevent civilian casualties in war against militants
- Title: Afghan President Ghani promises to prevent civilian casualties in war against militants
- Date: 20th September 2019
- Summary: JALALABAD, NANGARHAR, AFGHANISTAN (SEPTEMBER 20, 2019) (REUTERS) AFGHAN PRESIDENT, ASHRAF GHANI, WALKING ON STAGE AND WAVING TO PARTICIPANTS IN AN ELECTION RALLY VARIOUS OF GHANI SEATED ON STAGE ALONGSIDE HIS ELECTORAL TEAM (SOUNDBITE) (Pashto) AFGHAN PRESIDENT, ASHRAF GHANI, SAYING: "Let me offer my condolences to the families of the victims of the recent attacks, including the attack on the distribution centre for national identity cards and the martyrs from the incident in Khogyani. After the election, there will be a fundamental reform in all 02 security units.'' VARIOUS OF JALALABAD CITY STREETS WITH VEHICLES (SOUNDBITE) (Pashto) MEMBER OF NANGARHAR PROVINCIAL COUNCIL, AJMAL OMAR, SAYING: "The president said he was upset, but that is not enough because he is responsible to all the people. Residents of Khogyani want the president to tell us who the perpetrators were. It would have been better for the president to visit the victims' families and assure them the perpetrators would be punished." VEHICLES PASSING ALONG MAJOR ROAD (SOUNDBITE) (Pashto) RESIDENT OF NANGARHAR, QUDRATULLAH, SAYING: "The attack in Khogyani is a major disaster, many workers lost their lives. We have been witnesses to such incidents many times over recent years. Everyone is very sad about this attack and we ask the government to bring the perpetrators to justice." PEOPLE WALKING AND VEHICLES PASSING IN BUSY STREET
- Embargoed: 4th October 2019 14:04
- Keywords: Afghanistan President Ashraf Ghani drone strikes civilian deaths casualties
- Location: JALALABAD, NANGARHAR, AFGHANISTAN
- City: JALALABAD, NANGARHAR, AFGHANISTAN
- Country: Afghanistan
- Topics: Conflicts/War/Peace,Military Conflicts
- Reuters ID: LVA001AXGPUTJ
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: EDITORS NOTE: AUDIO AND VIDEO QUALITY AS INCOMING
Afghan President Ashraf Ghani on Friday (September 20) promised to introduce measures to prevent civilian casualties, a day after at least 30 civilians were killed in a U.S. drone strike in eastern Nangarhar province.
Addressing an election rally in Jalalabad, Ghani said new steps to protect civilians were being implemented, adding that he had introduced several "checks and balances" to stop night raids and attacks leading to loss of innocent lives.
Following the deadly attack on Wednesday (September 18) night that struck workers picking pine nuts in a field, Nangahar residents and officials said the perpetrators must be punished. U.S. security officials in Afghanistan said the drone strike was intended to destroy a hideout used by Islamic State fighters.
The President's remarks also follow news that the death toll in a Taliban truck bombing has risen to 39, nearly double the previous estimate. The blast destroyed a hospital in southern Afghanistan.
The Islamist militants have been carrying out nearly daily attacks since the collapse of peace talks with the United States this month, in the run-up to elections on September 28.
(Production: Mohammad Rafiq / Hameed Farzad/Hywel Davies) - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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