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| Afghanistan |
| Isaf Denies Damaging Houses in Attacks |
| 2011-01-13 |
| [Tolo News] Isaf's Spokesperson Wednesday dismissed a report claiming foreign troops target houses where people live during an operation in southern Kandahar province. Several days ago a huge military operation under the name of 'omid' was launched in southern parts of the country in a bid to reduce the Taliban presence in the region. But a senior Afghan official in a trip to Kandahar to gauge destruction made in the operation said the operation has cost $100 million loss to the people in the province. While expressing concern about the report, Blotz said fist of all we make sure that there is no civilian living in locations where we want to target in operations. Josef Blotz, Isaf's Spokesperson, remarked we even make photos of location prior and after the attack for compensation payments. "We do not attack houses at all, where people still live, in case we have to do something, we have to attack a house only because its staff made home-made explosives, because perhaps it's an IED factory," Blotz said. A top official in Afghan Defence Ministry said people suffer loss in military operations are paid compensation according to the government strategy. "Based on policy and President Karzai's decision, losses applied to people during combats should be compensated," Defence Ministry Spokesperson, Gen Zaher Azimi, said. A delegation led by Mohammad Sidiq Aziz Yar, Advisor in Karzai's Office, said in assessment of damages caused by the operation that a number of houses, fruit trees and gardens have been targeted without any clear reason. But Isaf announced that their forces have long been spending money to provide farmers with saplings and supplies to forward their farming. |
| Posted by:Fred |