[DEBATE] : Occupied Afghanistan - NATO considers more humane smaller bombs

[Riaz K. Tayob]

Nato mulls 'smaller Afghan bombs'

Nato is considering the use of smaller bombs in Afghanistan to try to 
curb the rising number of civilians killed during operations against the 
Taleban.

Commanders have also ordered troops to hold off attacking militants in 
some situations where civilians are at risk.

Secretary-General Jaap de Hoop Scheffer acknowledged civilian casualties 
had hurt the alliance politically, in an interview with the Financial Times.

Aid agencies say western forces have killed 230 civilians so far this year.

Between 700 and 1,000 civilians were killed by both sides during 2006, 
according to the Agency Co-ordinating Body for Afghan Relief (ACBAR).

Casualties 'inevitable'

Mr de Hoop Scheffer said Nato commanders were "working with weapon loads 
on aircraft to reduce collateral damage".

However, he insisted it was impossible to eliminate non-combatant deaths 
entirely.


    If we cannot neutralise our enemy today without harming civilians, 
our enemy will give us the opportunity tomorrow
Jaap de Hoop Scheffer
Nato Secretary-General

Mr de Hoop Scheffer said Gen Dan McNeill, the commander of the Nato 
force in Afghanistan, Isaf, had also instructed troops to delay attacks 
on Taleban fighters if civilians are at risk.

"We realise that, if we cannot neutralise our enemy today without 
harming civilians, our enemy will give us the opportunity tomorrow," he 
added,

"If that means going after a Taliban not on Wednesday but on Thursday, 
we will get him then."

A spokesman for Isaf (the International Security Assistance Force) told 
the BBC's correspondent in Kabul, Alastair Leithead, that the 
secretary-general's comments were part of a move to revise procedures to 
take Afghan sensitivities into account.

Mr de Hoop Scheffer's comments come a week after Italian Foreign 
Minister Massimo D'Alema said civilian casualties were "not acceptable 
on a moral level" and "disastrous on a political level".

Afghanistan's President, Hamid Karzai, also recently warned western 
troops against treating Afghan lives cheaply.

He is scheduled to visit the US at the weekend for talks with top US 
officials.
Story from BBC NEWS:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/2/hi/south_asia/6921713.stm

Published: 2007/07/30 07:24:44 GMT

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