Afghan ambassador defends US military operations
In the past, Afghan president Hamid Karzai has publicly criticised the deaths of civilians in US operations
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Saturday, 11, Apr 2009 10:53
Afghanistan's ambassador to the United States has said that civilian casualties in US military operations were a "tragedy" but a price that needed to be paid to ensure security.
In the past, Afghan president Hamid Karzai has publicly criticised the US over the deaths of Afghan civilians in US military operations against the Taliban.
Speaking to the Al Jazeera television station, Said Jawad said: "This is a price that we have to pay if we want security and stability in Afghanistan, the region and the world.
"It's not just the cost of the Afghan people; it's the freedom, it's the security of Afghanistan, of Pakistan, of the world."
Mr Jawad said the people of Afghanistan would understand if civilians had been killed accidentally if the mistake was acknowledged and an apology was received.
"People know that if these kind of operations are not conducted then we have to deal with the terrorists and the Taliban in the same villages and the same area - we have no option but to confront them militarily," Jawad added.
US president Barack Obama recently announced that 17,000 more US troops and 4,000 trainers would be sent to the country to help fight the Taliban.